Secretary of State: US proud of cooperation with Georgia

United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry has said America is proud to have Georgia as partner.

Kerry met Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili in Georgian capital Tbilisi this evening.

Fruitful conversation w/Secretary @JohnKerry : U.S.-Gerogia relations; Georgia's security; #WarsawSummitpic.twitter.com/o96twbzwgc

— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) July 6, 2016

The leaders discussed a number of issues that included:

• Security in the region;
• Georgia-Russia relations;
• Preparations for NATO Summit in Warsaw;
• Georgia’s Western aspirations;
• Parliamentary elections in October; and
• Hard situation in Georgia’s Russian occupied regions.

"The US firmly supports Georgia's security, prosperity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” Kerry wrote on Twitter following the meeting.

Good conversation w/President Margvelashvili. US firmly supports Georgia's security, prosperity, & Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) July 6, 2016

The President’s adviser on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Tengiz Pkhaladze said the meeting had a "very high importance”.

"[The sides] also discussed Georgia’s geopolitical role and how the country could better use its international importance,” Pkhaladze said.

Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze attended Kerry's meeting with Margvelashvili. Photo by the President's press office

Kerry and Margvelashvili will meet again in a couple of days in Poland at NATO’s Warsaw Summit on July 8 and 9.

Click here to read more about Kerry’s other meeting in Tbilisi.