Georgian FM discusses US-Georgia strategic partnership issues in Washington DC
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Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani has held a meeting with experts of US think tanks and research centres as part of his visit to Washington DC yesterday.
The strategic partnership between the US and Georgia was the major topic during the meeting, as well as Georgia’s integration process into NATO, and the country’s geostrategic importance in transnational energy and transport projects.
David Zalkaliani also provided information to US organisations about reforms planned by the Georgian government.
"Special emphasis has been put on NATO’s recent summit in Brussels and its results in terms of security across the Black Sea region, as well as the practical directions of further NATO-Georgia cooperation”, MFA said in a release today.
US experts and researchers were also informed about the situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Zalkaliani at the meeting held yesterday.
Foreign Minister Zalkaliani is visiting Washington DC on the invitation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to participate in an international conference on freedom of religion attended by foreign ministers from more than 20 other countries.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated in Washington today that Georgia has the firm support of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and this support has already been revealed many times.
Everyone including Russian Federation, is obliged to respect the norms of international law and the principle of Georgia's territorial integrity, this is how Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani answered the statement by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry's expressing desire to improve relations with Georgia.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze to NATO Headquarters today reiterating the alliance’s support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations at a joint briefing.
Pompeo’s speech started with a declaration of support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Pompeo sounded a clear and strong message to Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.