Georgian parliament speaker on US congressman’s critical letter: ‘we listen to official Washington’
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze says that official Washington is happy with the situation in Georgia. Photo: Archil Talakvadze’s press office.
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has responded to a recent open letter published by US Congressman Markwayne Mullin on ‘the deteriorating economic climate’ in Georgia, by saying that Georgia listens to the official statements of the US government.
Top officials of the US State Department and our American partners say that Georgia has irreversible progress in terms of development of democratic institutions and human rights and that Georgia is one of the most reliable partners of the US in the security field,” Talakvadze said.
He stated that the congressman’s letter mainly concerns the international dispute between Georgia and an American company Frontera, which drills for oil and gas in Eastern Georgia per a contract signed with the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation back in 1997.
Georgia will protect its interests in the dispute [in the Hague Court of Arbitration],” Talakvadze said.
Vice Parliament Speaker Giorgi Volski says that the letter is “biased.”
As far as I know about 200 American companies are registered in Georgia and none of them have been attacked so far,” Volski said.
Independent MP Beka Natsvlishvili [who previously was a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party] says that the congressman “allowed himself to protect the interests of the company [Frontera] which has violated the fundamental human rights of Georgian citizens.”
Mullin said, despite Georgia's progress since declaring its independence in 1991, "recent years have revealed a continuous negative trend in democratic and free market economic indicators." Photo: Flickr.
The employees of Frontera in Georgia [referring to Frontera Eastern Georgia company] have not received salaries in 11 months,” Natsvlishvili said.
Leader of the Lelo for Georgia political party Mamuka Khazaradze has called the letter “alarming,” saying that such statements by foreign partners “place Georgia-US cooperation under a question mark.”
Leader of the European Georgia opposition party Sergi Kapanadze has stated that such letters “must make the Georgian government wake up.”
Kapanadze says that both American and European partners are “concerned” by the situation in the country and the actions of the current Georgian government.
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 (FDI), in particular for US energy companies in the country, citing Frontera.
- The government of Georgia and American company Frontera have sued each other for “violating contract conditions,” which are confidential.
- Frontera says that it has suffered $3.5 billion in damage in Georgia.
- Frontera, which was founded in the US in 1996, entered Georgia in 1997 and founded Frontera Eastern Georgia.
- The Georgian OIl and Gas Corporation owns 50 per cent of Frontera Eastern Georgia.
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 US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch has called upon the Georgian government to keep its election promise on an early transition to a fully proportional electoral system starting from 2020 instead of scheduled 2024, in his interview with Voice of America.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the concerns of two US congressmen regarding ongoing protests in Tbilisi, stating that the US-Georgia relations are at an all time high and the more goals Georgia achieves, the more demands are raised on further progress and the expectations are high.
US Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly have sent a letter to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia regarding the ongoing protests in Tbilisi, sparked by the rejection of the ruling Georgian Dream party proposed election bill on November 14. The congressmen stated that since declaring independence in 1991, Georgia has developed a “strong democratic foundation and demonstrated a commitment to democratic values”, including free and fair elections.
US Congressman Adam Kinzinger has tweeted that he and three other congressmen have sent a letter to Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia with ‘grave concerns’ over political and economic issues in the country.
Congressmen Adam Kinzinger, Gerald Connoly, Eliot Engel and Michael McCaul wrote on January 21 that they are “concerned over the decision to forego promised democratic reforms and the associated violence against peaceful protesters” in Georgia.
Georgian Independent MP Beka Natsvlishvili, who left the ruling Georgian Dream party last year, has addressed US congressmen, senators and newly appointed Ambassador Kelly Degnan regarding the activities of American oil and gas company Frontera, which has been drilling in eastern Georgia starting 1997.
US Senator Jim Risch, a chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, have sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, expressing concern over ‘recent events that indicate a backsliding from Georgia’s commitment to build the institutions of their democracy.’
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has met with US Senator Jim Risch, a chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, in Washington earlier today stating that the senators ‘have very obviously seen the political will of the Georgian government to further strengthen democratic institutions in the country.’
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has met with the US Acting Assistant Secretary of State of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker in Washington to discuss the issues of strategic partnership.“The Georgia-US cooperation has been given high assessments in all fields, as well as the activities of the group created per the Strategic Partnership Charter,” Georgian Foreign Ministry reported earlier today.
Former employees of the American oil and gas company Frontera gave held a rally demanding they receive back pay.
A US House of Representatives subcommittee has proposed making financial assistance for Georgia conditional on the fulfilment of several requirements, which has the opposition raising the alarm bell while the ruling party states that the country will not bear any losses.