Georgia’s Foreign Minister on official visit to US

Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze is preparing to meet United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry today. 

Janelidze, who is on a four-day official visit to the US, has already held several meetings at the US Congress and the Senate since he began his tour on March 13.

One meeting was held with Texas Republican Congressman Mike Conway, who is a member of the Georgia Caucus at the US Congress.

"[He] pledged support to promote Georgia’s interests within Congress, as well as for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the meeting. 

The statement added Conway expressed his readiness to contribute to the development of the strategic partnership between Georgia and the US.

Since arriving in the US Janelidze also met Nebraska Republican Congressman Adrian Smith.

Discussions during Janelidze’s US meetings focused on the security situation in the region including in the occupied territories of Georgia. Talking points also included Georgia’s integration with NATO and preparations for this year’s NATO Summit in Warsaw.

The Georgian Minister provided the Congressmen with information regarding Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s initiatives to see an "improvement in the political environment in the country, consolidation of political forces and conduction of elections in compliance with democratic principles”. 

The officials also talked about the package of reforms initiated by the Georgian Prime Minister, which served to improve the business environment in Georgia. 

In the framework of his visit, Janelidze also met former US Ambassadors to Georgia William Courtney, Kenneth Yalowitz, Richard Miles and Richard Norland.

The Foreign Minister thanked the Ambassadors for their activities in Georgia, for their contribution to the strengthening of relations between the US and Georgia and to the development of the country.    

Meanwhile, while in Washington Janelidze met representatives of leading US research institutions, the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS), the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The Georgian official took part in a dinner organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which was attended by representatives of the Executive Branch of the US Government, diplomatic corps accredited to the US and experts.