US bill no longer includes preconditions for allocating $132mln aid for Georgia
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the removal of the precondition indicates ‘significant progress’ in Georgia’s democratic development.
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The US Fiscal Year 2021 State and Foreign Operations Funding bill, which has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, no longer includes preconditions for allocating 132 million USD financial aid for Georgia.
The bill which was earlier approved by the House of Representatives said that Georgia should receive “not less than USD $132 million in financial assistance.”
However, it also read that 15 per cent of the funds could have been withheld until the US Secretary of State determined and reported that the Georgian government is taking effective steps to strengthen democratic institutions, combat corruption and ensure that the rule of law in the private sector is consistent with international, recognised standards.
The provision has been removed from the recently adopted bill by the Senate’s Appropriations Committee which once again proves that there is significant progress in Georgia's democratic development. The removal of the precondition shows our opponents that the country's relationship with our main strategic partner, the United States, should not be used for their political interests,” Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier today.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has responded to the approval of the bill by the Senate's committee. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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The bill needs to be approved by the Senate and then signed by the US president to come into effect.
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