US Congressmen encourage Trump to strengthen strategic relationship with Georgia
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United State congressmen have sent a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump asking to reiterate a firm, bipartisan support for Georgia, which they say is "one of our most reliable and steadfast regional partners”.
"Over the last 25 years, Georgia has continued to develop its democratic institutions. Georgia has achieved substantial progress in both political and economic development by strengthening its institutions, reducing government regulation, fighting corruption, and simplifying its tax code”, says the letter signed by 30 Congressmen from both parties.
It stresses that Freedom House has acknowledged Georgia's largely free and diverse media environment. Transparency International has noted Georgia's steady improvement in its corruption index. The World Bank’s "Ease of Doing Business Report" named Georgia the most improved country in the world over the past twelve years with regard to its free market business environment.
"Georgia's accomplishments are even more striking against the backdrop of continued Russian military aggression. Russia has illegally occupied twenty percent of Georgian territory since it invaded Georgia in 2008. Russian troops have continued the process of creeping annexation and frequently commit human rights violations and kidnappings throughout the occupied regions and adjacent territories”, the bipartisan letter read.
It added that despite its own security challenges, Georgia plays a significant role in ensuring global security, namely in the fight against terrorism. The letter mentions that Georgia is a committed and reliable US partner, most notably manifested by serving shoulder-to-shoulder with American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This country of less than four million people is one of the largest troop contributors to the international mission in Afghanistan, and Georgian soldiers have been killed in combat. Georgia's military spending also exceeds two percent of its GDP, a benchmark that only five NATO member states currently meet. We ask that you continue historical US support for Georgia's bid to join NATO”, the Congressmen wrote to President Trump.
Thank you @JudgeTedPoe@GerryConnolly and honorable members of the House of Rep. 4 strong support to relations! https://t.co/9BnRIGwG2K
— David Bakradze (@BakradzeDavid) May 2, 2017
Georgian Ambassador to the US David Bakradze took to Tweeter to thank the Congressmen.
Their letter also noted that Georgia is a natural home for US companies that want to do business in the wider Caucasus and Black Sea region. As a result, US trade with Georgia has grown significantly over the past decade. According to the letter, in 2016, the US exported over $324 million of goods to Georgia.
"We strongly encourage the Administration to make progress toward negotiations on a US-Georgia Free Trade Agreement. The US-Georgia High-Level Dialogue on Trade and Investment should produce a clear understanding of the commitments and obligations required for negotiations on a free trade agreement. Such an agreement would be beneficial for the US, Georgia, and the entire Caucasus and Central Asian region”, the letter read.
The congressmen stressed that Georgia has been a reliable and strategic partner of the United States for more than 25 years. In December 2016, the Parliament of Georgia passed a bipartisan resolution affirming the US as the major strategic partner and ally of Georgia. In September 2016, the US House of Representatives passed its own resolution, introduced by Georgia Caucus co-chairs Representatives Gerald E. Connolly and Ted Poe, expressing its unwavering support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.
"We reaffirm our bipartisan commitment to support Georgia and encourage the Administration to strengthen this strategic relationship. It is critical that the United States sends a strong message that we stand with Georgia, just as its people have clone for us”, said the Congressmen.
The letter was sent to Trump by Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Georgia Caucus yesterday in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the US and Georgia. Georgia Caucus Co-Chairman Gerald Connolly and 28 other Members of Congress joined the letter.