PM Kvirikashvili at US Inst. of Peace: “Despite current challenges we remain democratic”

Georgia will become a NATO member eventually, believes a United States (US) Congressman.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is enjoying a four-day working trip to the US, where he met US Congressmen Ed Royce and Eliot Engel.

Both officials reiterated the US support for Georgia, noting the two countries were major strategic partners.

Engel talked about Georgia’s NATO prospective and said he believed not inviting Georgia into the alliance at the Bucharest Summit in 2008 was "a mistake”.

"I supported Georgia and Ukraine to become NATO members at the 2008 Bucharest Summit. I believe it was a mistake from NATO’s part that the alliance didn’t open up for these countries at that time,” he said.

"I still believe Georgia and Ukraine should become NATO members and I hope our cooperation will continue.”

"Eventually, Georgia will become a NATO member.”

In the framework of the visit Kvirikashvili spoke at the US Institute of Peace on US-Georgia bilateral ties and about Georgia’s political and economic development.

.@KvirikashviliGi: In the face of fundamental existential challenges to our freedom & democracy, we remain democratic & dynamic #GeorgiaUSIP

— U.S. Inst. of Peace (@USIP) April 26, 2016

"Our approach is designed to ‘cool down’ tensions to allow space for investment and moving West,” said the Georgian high official, and while speaking about Georgia’s relations with Russia he added:

"In the face of fundamental existential challenges to our freedom and democracy, we remain democratic and dynamic.”

Kvirikashvili stressed Georgia had transformed itself from a country ravaged by civil war into a modern democratic state.

"We are the only free and open economy in the region," he said.

Georgia has excellent potential to become a regional trade and logistics hub, says @KvirikashviliGi. #GeorgiaUSIPhttps://t.co/3dEDAwBXQk

— U.S. Inst. of Peace (@USIP) April 26, 2016

The situation in the region was another topic on the agenda, with Kvirikashvili stating: "we are very concerned with the tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh... It could destabilise the whole region”.

He also talked about Ukraine and noted Georgia strongly supported Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"Ukraine should stay consistent in its policies toward Russia, and also focus on its own development,” he said.

Watch his full speech below.

Earlier yesterday Kvirikashvili attended a meeting organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). He presented his Government's four-point reform plan to the representatives of international organisations, expert circles and government officials.

The Georgian PM stressed his team currently focused on three main aspects. These were:

• Strengthening democratic institutions;
• Providing security; and
• Stable development of economy.

 He hoped the global community would support Georgia to achieve all of these goals.