PM Kvirikashvili meets Congressman Ed Royce, summarises his US visit
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"Georgia stands high on our daily agenda at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives at the US Congress” Ed Royce, Committee Chairman said at a meeting with Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili today.
Topics discussed at the meeting were related to the upcoming NATO summit and the importance of asserting the progress achieved by Georgia.
According to Congressman Royce a number of supporting statements were made in favor of Georgia yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Committee, which held a hearing of the US Secretary of State.
The meeting of the Prime Minister of Georgia and congressman was also focused on the opportunities created through bilateral relations, including intensified cooperation in terms of economy and trade.
Chairman @RepEdRoyce & Prime Minister @KvirikashviliGi discuss the need for continuing U.S. support against Russian aggression pic.twitter.com/LbEUIekIgm
— Foreign Affairs Cmte (@HouseForeign) May 23, 2018
PM Kvirikashvili has finished his four day visit to the US today. Summarising the meetings held during the visit with the State Secretary, Vice President, different senators and congressmen, he said the visit was "extremely important” and called the US "the closest strategic support partner of Georgia in today's world.”
"We heard very clear, unambiguous messages from Mike Pompeo. The messages vividly supporting Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, also our accession to NATO, are vital, especially when we approach the July Summit of NATO in Brussels. We are the closest partner of US in our region and we heard the most supportive messages from Vice President Pence, which are of greatest – and I would say - of vital importance for us. Of course, this is also a huge responsibility on Georgia to take great strides in this partnership. Georgian authorities pledge and absolutely stand ready for this,” PM Kvirikashvili said.
As Prime Minister Kvirikashvili pointed out the US visit was fruitful with specific messages and promises giving reason for hoping that it will have a significant continuation in the future towards deepening the bilateral strategic partnership.
During his official US visit Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili met with several US senators who expressed their firm support for Georgia's further development and success on the road to NATO membership.
As Congressman Gerald Connolly said, Georgia is exemplary in the regions with its independence, political pluralism and democratic governance gained in a neighborhood where autocracy and authoritarianism have taken root frequently.
Pompeo’s speech started with a declaration of support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Pompeo sounded a clear and strong message to Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Vice President Pence confirmed the US’ readiness to support steps towards Georgia’s integration into NATO, as well as to strengthen the defence and security potential of the country and deepen trade and economic relations.
The two leaders discussed issues on the agenda of relations between Georgia and the US.
The US-Georgia defence relationship is "important and blossoming,” said Robert S. Karem, the assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs at the second annual US-Georgia Strategic Partnership Conference. The top defence official hailed the US relationship with Georgia, saying it is an "incredibly important strategic partnership” with a nation that shares values and interests with the United States.