Georgian FM meets US senators in Washingron who sent letter of concern to Georgian PM
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has met with US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has met with 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, in Washington earlier today stating that the senators ‘have very obviously seen the political will of the Georgian government to further strengthen democratic institutions in the country.’
The senators sent a letter to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia last week expressing concern over ‘recent events that indicate a backsliding from Georgia’s commitment to build the institutions of their democracy.’
We support Georgia and respect the aspirations of the Georgian people to the EU and NATO, their attitude to the US and the Euro-Atlantic partnership. We are sure the US support to Georgia will continue,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry has cited the senators as saying.
Zalkaliani said that it was a ‘very good meeting which one again confirmed the US-Georgia strategic partnership.’
It was a sincere talk between allies and strategic partners. I once again confirmed Georgia’s support to the US and they, for their part, expressed support for the strategic partnership,” Zalkaliani said.
Georgian FM has met with Republican Congressman Devin Nunes. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
Zalkaliani said that the senators and the US consider Georgia a ‘high-standard democracy in the region’ and the recent letters coming from the country were sent of high expectations.
I had an opportunity to inform them in detail about all the issues they mentioned in their letter, including the election issues and the ongoing talks between the ruling party and the opposition, as well as about the recommendations we receive from our partners regarding the election topic. I told them that Georgia remains committed to democratic values and its international obligations,” Zalkaliani said.
Zalkaliani has also met with a Republican Congressman Devin Nunes who said that Georgia contributes much to international peace and security and the US ‘is interested in continuing close cooperation with the Georgian government.”
Before leaving for Washington earlier this week Zalkaliani said that the meetings in the US will be an opportunity for “sincere communication with out strategic partner” on various issues, adding that “the meetings and the actions of the Georgian government will further strengthen the US-Georgia strategic partnership.”
The opposition say that the ‘critical letters’ received from US senators over the past several weeks are because of the actions of the Georgian government and the process ‘significantly damage the US-Georgia relations.’
However, Georgian top officials stated that the US senators likely received biased information and promised ‘intense and sincere communication’ with them.
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 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.
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 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 Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has met with the US Acting Assistant Secretary of State of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker in Washington to discuss the issues of strategic partnership.“The Georgia-US cooperation has been given high assessments in all fields, as well as the activities of the group created per the Strategic Partnership Charter,” Georgian Foreign Ministry reported earlier today.
Former employees of the American oil and gas company Frontera gave held a rally demanding they receive back pay.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze, who is visiting the United States from February 5-10, is holding meetings with US Congressmen. Talakvadze held his first meeting with Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who is one of thoe legislators who sent letters to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia with ‘grave concerns’ over political and economic issues in the country.
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.’
"The idea of American business being oppressed in Georgia is not true”, said Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani in response to the letter of US congressman Markwayne Mullin sent to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, where he expressed his concern about the US business interests in Georgia being ‘subjected to harassment and expropriation attack’ naming oil and gas company Frontera Resources from Houston, Texas.
The United States Embassy has reported that the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Director Chris Socha visited Tbilisi to discuss the current political environment in the country.
US Acting Assistant Secretary of State of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker congratulated Georgia on its Independence Day and said that ‘the United States will always support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.’