US politician voices strong support for Georgia

Georgia's partnership with the United States (US) was spoken about with enthusiasm and support at the US House of Representatives session yesterday when a member of the country's legislative body spoke about the importance of supporting ties between the two nations.

Texas Representative Ted Poe addressed US lawmakers at yesterday’s general speeches session of the House of Representatives. In his comments Poe noted Georgia's achievements in democratic reforms in the face of regional challenges.

The Republican politician from Texas referred to Georgia's quest for independence in the past century while also stressing the country continued to aspire to join the European Union (EU) and NATO.

The fact is that Georgian people and their Government share our Western values. A recent poll found that more than three quarters of the Georgian people support their Government's goal to join the European Union,” said Poe.

"Nearly 70 percent of Georgians also support Georgia joining NATO, and the United States should be vocal and support Georgia's quest to be in NATO," said the Texas Representative.

In his speech he also appealed for the US to continue its support for Georgia as a "small and young democracy in an area that is more known for its authoritarian rule than freedom."

He also spoke about Georgia's upcoming Parliamentary Elections and said Georgia should be supported by its international partners during the election period.

The Georgians are now preparing to hold elections in October and to ensure these Parliamentary Elections are free and fair, the Georgians have invited international independent election observers to monitor those elections in October. The United States and our NATO allies must remain firm in our support for Georgia.”

The American representative also talked about Georgia's media and business freedom, the currently friendly and strategic partnership between the US and Georgia as well as Georgia’s vast contribution to international peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic and more.

[Georgia] has provided more troops to the effort in Afghanistan than any other non-NATO member. Thirty-three Georgian troops have fought and died on the battlefield with American troops and 900 Georgian troops still remain in Afghanistan," said Poe.

The full speech of Representative Ted Poe about US-Georgia relations at the US House of Representatives can be viewed on the US government's C-SPAN public service website here.