Streets near US Embassy get new name: Georgian-American Friendship Ave

The unnamed area surrounding the American Embassy has been given a new name that reflects the positive relationship between Georgia and the United States of America.

Streets immediately surrounding the Embassy will now be called Georgian-American Friendship Avenue.

Tbilisi City Council decided to give names to some of Tbilisi’s unnamed streets, including the section surrounding the US Embassy.

City Council chairman Irakli Shikhiashvili said the new name demonstrated the friendship between the two countries.

He said the United States was "the greatest guarantor for Georgia's sovereignty” and the Council thought it was necessary to recognise their support so decided to name the area Georgian-American Friendship Avenue

"Diplomatic and friendly relations established between Georgia and the USA 22 years ago on April 23, 1992. The past years have clearly demonstrated that the US is a great contributor in building the state of Georgia,” he said.

"The United States provides a great political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Georgia. The American Government and people have repeatedly confirmed its strong support towards Georgia's territorial integrity and its Euro-integration process.”

Before the new name was accepted, particularly when naming a street in Tbilisi with a similar name, the non-governmental organization Friends of America Club applied to the City Council, who endorsed the initiative.