Georgia, US state of Georgia mark 25 years of military partnership
US Major General Thomas Carden (L) and Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
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This week, Georgia and the US state of Georgia National Guard are celebrating the 25th anniversary of military partnership.
The state partnership programme fosters interoperability between the US and Georgia and promotes peace and security, the US Embassy to Georgia reports.
US Major General Thomas Carden is in Tbilisi to attend the 25th anniversary of the state partnership programme “to commemorate the enduring relationship between the country of Georgia and the US state of Georgia,” the US Embassy said.
The Georgian Defence Ministry has hosted an event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Georgia and the US state of Georgia National Guard. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili praised the US-Georgia “strong and exemplary partnership” during the 25th anniversary event yesterday and stated that the partnership is “of the highest importance” for Georgia.
We are further developing our relations with the US, taking steps to further strengthen democratic institutions in the country and are striving to NATO integration,” Garibashvili said.
Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood, the US and Georgian officials attended the event held at the Georgian Defence Ministry Army Hall.
The US Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Alex Mooney are visiting Georgia between November 5 and 9, and are scheduled to meet with the Georgian PM, parliament speaker, foreign minister and defence minister.
US congressman Brendan Boyle said he supported the Georgia Support Act in the House of Representatives “to reaffirm and strengthen the US-Georgia partnership”.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the bill supporting Georgia passed by the US House of Representatives yesterday is “unprecedented”in US-Georgia relations and in the history of independent Georgia.He stated that the US passed the bill at a time when the American political agenda “is too busy” with different issues.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze have thanked the US House of Representatives for passing the Georgia Support Act with strong bipartisan support, with Gakharia saying that “it is the first standalone legislation related to Georgia dedicated to taking our partnership to the next level.”
US Congressmen, co-chairs of the Georgia Caucus Representatives Gerry Connolly and Adam Kinzinger have reintroduced the Georgia Support Act. The document asserts US’ ‘continued support’ for the independence and sovereignty of Georgia, recognises Georgia’s commitment to democratic values including free and fair elections, and affirms US opposition to Russian aggression in the region.
Field professionals from the United States will train Georgian firefighters to improve the capabilities of first responders and develop military-civilian cooperation and interagency coordination within the US-funded State Partnership Programme, Georgia’s Emergency Management Service announced on Friday.