PM Gakharia: US-Georgia relations at all time high, more goals we achieve, more demands are raised
Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the letter sent to him by two US congressmen on December 13. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the concerns of two US congressmen regarding ongoing protests in Tbilisi, stating that the US-Georgia relations are at an all time high and the more goals Georgia achieves, the more demands are raised on further progress and the expectations are high.
Gakharia stated that Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly chair the US-Georgia Friendship Group [in the House of Representatives] and the “Georgian government receives all types of criticism from them in a working regime.”
The US is our strategic partner and we receive all criticism from the chairs of a group of friends of Georgia, from our allies and strategic partners in a working regime and we see no problem in this regard. Herewith, we have our position. There are certain questions and we will respond to the questions as it is the part of a positive strategic cooperation,” Gakharia said.
Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly have sent a letter to Georgian PM.
Gakharia stated that the Georgian parliament has already approved changes on the transition to a fully proportional electoral system starting from 2024 and the decision will not be changed.
He said that the ruling party was the initiator of the early transition to a fully proportional electoral system starting from 2020. However, the bill was rejected in parliament.
This is the political process taking place in the parliament elected by the people. We are open for discussions and the discussion [with the opposition on 2020 elections] will continue,” Gakharia said.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger has released a letter written to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia which included concerns on the rejection of the election bill and the government’s reaction to the protests sparked by the rejection.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has responded to the letter of two US congressmen regarding the ongoing protests in Tbilisi, sparked by the rejection of an election bill last month, saying that “much controversial information is reaching Washington.”
US Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly have sent a letter to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia regarding the ongoing protests in Tbilisi, sparked by the rejection of the ruling Georgian Dream party proposed election bill on November 14. The congressmen stated that since declaring independence in 1991, Georgia has developed a “strong democratic foundation and demonstrated a commitment to democratic values”, including free and fair elections.
The US Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Alex Mooney have visited the occupation line in the village of Odzisi, Gori municipality, near Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
The United States Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Alex Mooney, who are visiting Georgia on November 5-9, met with the Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze today. Kinzinger and Mooney reiterated the US support for Georgia, its territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch has called upon the Georgian government to keep its election promise on an early transition to a fully proportional electoral system starting from 2020 instead of scheduled 2024, in his interview with Voice of America.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has responded to a recent open letter published by US Congressman Markwayne Mullin on ‘the deteriorating economic climate’ in Georgia, by saying that Georgia listens to the official statements of the US government. “Top officials of the US State Department and our American partners say that Georgia has irreversible progress in terms of development of democratic institutions."
US Congressman Adam Kinzinger has tweeted that he and three other congressmen have sent a letter to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia with ‘grave concerns’ over political and economic issues in the country.
Congressmen Adam Kinzinger, Gerald Connoly, Eliot Engel and Michael McCaul wrote on January 21 that they are “concerned over the decision to forego promised democratic reforms and the associated violence against peaceful protesters” in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said in response to the recent letter from the four United States Congressmen that Georgian officials are “always ready” to talk to “strategic partners” of the country. Gakharia, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21-24, responded to the question from a Georgian journalist.
Georgian Independent MP Beka Natsvlishvili, who left the ruling Georgian Dream party last year, has addressed US congressmen, senators and newly appointed Ambassador Kelly Degnan regarding the activities of American oil and gas company Frontera, which has been drilling in eastern Georgia starting 1997.
US Senator Jim Risch, a chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, have sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, expressing concern over ‘recent events that indicate a backsliding from Georgia’s commitment to build the institutions of their democracy.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia will meet with the US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper later today on the sidelines of the 56th Munich Security Conference. Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the meeting is of high importance. “The meeting carries high importance as the relationship with our strategic partner is a top priority for the Georgian government. The US-Georgia exemplary cooperation in the defence field should strengthen further,” Zalkaliani said.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze have congratulated the United States President-elect Joe Biden on his election victory. Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that Georgia looks forward to continue ‘further strengthening the US-Georgia Strategic partnership’ under his presidency.