US Congressman tweets he and three other Congressmen sent letter ‘with grave concerns’ to Georgian PM
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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.
Kinzinger, who sent an earlier letter to Gakharia with Congressman Gerry Connolly back in December 2019, tweeted yesterday:
“Today, @RepKinzinger @GerryConnolly @RepEliotEngel & @RepMcCaul sent a letter to the Georgian PM with grave concerns over political targeting & a declining economic trend that spells trouble for Georgia’s path towards democratic reform & Western integration.” – @Maura_Gillespie
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 21, 2020
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that Georgia-US relations are “at an all-time high,” and the Georgian government is “listening attentively” to any recommendations or statements coming from the US, ‘even if they are based on subjective information.’
I have not seen the letter. As far as I know from the tweet, the letter talks about an economic downturn in Georgia which is not accurate information, as the Georgian economy has grown six per cent. I believe that personal communication is more important than communication by letters,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani stated that the planned visits of Georgian officials to the US will help “sharing of unbiased information’ with US officials and legislators, so that they can receive “accurate, correct information about the situation in Georgia.”
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated in December 2019, in response to two congressmen's letter, 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."
We enjoy very firm support from official Washington and the statements by top US executive officials confirm this,” Zalkaliani said.
Leader of the European Georgia opposition party David Bakradze says that if the Georgian Dream government decides to hide the letter, it will be an illustration of how the “Georgian Dream reacts to criticism coming from Washington.”
Any attempt to hide the letter will be useless as the US [the congressmen] will make it public,” Bakradze says.
Member of the United National Movement opposition Salome Samadashvili says that a “negative mood towards the current Georgian leadership is increasing in the US and Europe and it is very obvious in the statements made by American and European officials.”
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."
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.
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.
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.’
US Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who is one of several congressmen who sent a letter to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia over the past several weeks, has tweeted that he had a ‘productive meeting’ with Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze in Washington, adding that he appreciates 'Talakvadze’s effort to visit and discuss the importance of our alliance.’
US Congressman Adam Kinzinger has welcomed an agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on how to hold the 2020 elections, ‘applauding’ the efforts of all parties involved in the negotiations, ‘including Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze and the US Embassy in Georgia under Ambassador Kelly Degnan.’
A US House of Representatives subcommittee has proposed making financial assistance for Georgia conditional on the fulfilment of several requirements, which has the opposition raising the alarm bell while the ruling party states that the country will not bear any losses.