US Congressman says NDI, IRI ‘do not choose sides or support particular political outcomes’
Congressman Eliot Engel called on his friends in Georgia to continue partnering with organisations like NDI and IRI to advance Georgian citizens’ aspirations “for a more democratic, sovereign, and prosperous future”. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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US Congressman Eliot Engel, who is also the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, issued a statement in support of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI).
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia has made tremendous strides forward developing democracy and the rule of law—values at the core of America’s partnership with that country”, Engel said.
Noting that the Georgian people “remain on the front line” against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression, as Russia continues to occupy Georgia’s territory to this day”, Engel said he has supported Congress’ investment in Georgia’s democracy and civil society, including through NDI and IRI.
These organisations have worked with a range of partners to support democratic institutions worldwide”, Engel said.
In Georgia, they work closely with partners across the political spectrum, including the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition parties. They do not choose sides or support particular political outcomes”, he added.
Chairman @RepEliotEngel: I have supported Congress’s investment in Georgia’s democracy & civil society, including through @NDI & @IRIglobal. In Georgia they work closely with partners across the political spectrum...& they do not choose sides.https://t.co/9lWeWfXluk
— House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) December 6, 2019
Congressman Engel called on his friends in Georgia to continue partnering with organisations like NDI and IRI to advance Georgian citizens’ aspirations “for a more democratic, sovereign, and prosperous future”.
The US Congress stands with the people of Georgia, and I will continue to do all I can to support democracy and civil society in Georgia”, he concluded.
Engel’s statement comes in response to the Georgian Dream ruling party leader Bidzina Ivanishvili’s recent interview with local Imedi TV.
In the interview Ivanishvili said that the US-based institutions, NDI and IRI are facing devaluation in Georgia and he does not trust their surveys.
US says National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), other non-partisan organisations help strengthen Georgian democracy.
An International Republican Institute (IRI) poll released late yesterday reads that with the 2020 parliamentary elections less than a year away, a clear front-runner has yet to emerge."Because 61 percent of voters are focused on economic policies in the run-up to the election and a third are undecided on their first choice, political parties that develop coherent and appealing economic platforms will be best positioned to form a parliamentary majority,” the polls say.
The United States House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Georgia Support Act, introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly and co-sponsored by 31 other US legislators. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said the US is Georgia’s “closest strategic ally”, whereas the Georgia Support Act is “a landmark piece of legislation”.
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has granted honorable Georgian citizenship to the President of the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) Kenneth Wollack during his visit in Washington today.
United States Congressman Markwayne Mullin, who is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia with concerns about the "deteriorating economic climate" for foreign direct investment, in particular for US energy companies in the country.
The International Republican Institute (IRI) released its recent poll today, which says 33% of those surveyed would vote for the ruling Georgian Dream party if parliamentary elections were to be held this coming Sunday, while 16% said they would rather vote for the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party.