Heritage Foundation: “Georgia deserves recognition for liberalising economy, embracing democracy”

Georgia deserves recognition for liberalising its economy, fighting against corruption and embracing democracy, says the Heritage Foundation Vice President for Research.

Kim Holmes spoke at the conference to mark the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the United States in Washington DC yesterday. He highlighted Georgia’s success over the past 25 years.

Evaluated 25 years of friendship and strategic partnership on a @Heritage conference pic.twitter.com/9gL3J2YxQs

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) June 8, 2017

Holmes said that in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US was among the first to recognise Georgia’s independence in 1991 and a year after that an American embassy was opened in Tbilisi and "it was the beginning of what turned out to be a very strong, stable and enduring relationship”.

He praised Georgia as a beacon of democracy and economic freedom. In his words, "for years the Georgian Government has pursued the agenda of liberalising economy, fighting corruption and embracing democracy”.

Holmes highlighted Georgia’s performance in terms of the index of economic freedom over these 25 years.

"In 1999 when economic freedom index was opened, Georgia ranked 123rd which is not a very good score, today though, it ranks 13th. It is the most remarkable improvement that any single country in the history of economic index improvement has achieved”, he said.

Holmes also spoke about the security challenges facing Georgia.

"Georgia has proved to be a staunch ally of the United States. Most people do not know that at the time of invasion in 2008 by Russia, Georgia had the second-largest troop presence in Iraq after the US”, he said, adding Georgia still has 70 soldiers in Afghanistan.

"For these contributions and sacrifices Georgia has made in Afghanistan and elsewhere Americans are eternally grateful”, he said.

The Conference to mark the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the US was held under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation and the German Marshall Fund. Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and senior officials of the US legislative and executive branches of the government took part in the event.