Pompeo meets with Georgian Patriarch, NGOs
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has completed his meetings in Georgia. Photo: US Embassy press office.
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US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has completed his visit to Georgia following meetings with Georgian Patriarch Ilia II and civil society representatives.
Pompeo and Georgian Catholics Patriarch Ilia II have discussed Georgia's ‘important role’ in promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world, the US Embassy to Georgia has reported.
At the meeting with Georgian NGOs Pompeo mentioned Georgia’s recent judicial reform efforts and the ‘important role’ of civil society in advancing the rule of law and developing modern state institutions.
It was my great pleasure to meet with His Holiness, Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch Ilia II today. As a member of the International Religious Freedom Alliance, Georgia’s role in promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world cannot be overstated. pic.twitter.com/tIniLyqSPl
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) November 18, 2020
However, all agreed there is more work to be done, and the United States stands ready to continue its support. Included in the meeting were representatives of some of the many professional NGOs dedicated to improving Georgia’s democracy, including the American Chamber of Commerce Georgia, Economic Policy Research Center, Georgian Democracy Initiative, Open Society-Georgia Foundation, Rights Georgia, and Transparency International Georgia,” US Embassy to Georgia has reported.
Members of the six NGOs, who have attended the meeting, stated that the meeting was mainly focused on 'problems in the judicial field.'
They said that Pompeo 'was well informed' regarding the 'existence of a clan in the court system.'
The representatives of the civil sector also said that they pushed forward the 'threats coming from informal running the state,' and the derange of the Anaklia deep sea port project.
Prior to the meetings Pompeo met with the Georgian PM, president and foreign minister.
He has already left the country.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the visit of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo in Georgia is ‘very important which will bring substantial results.’
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo has met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Tbilisi earlier today, where he reaffirmed US commitment to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and commended the country for its ‘significant contributions’ to the fight against global terrorism, the US Embassy to Georgia has reported. The meeting took place in the Orbeliani presidential palace in central Tbilisi.
"Thrilled to be in Tbilisi", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter after arriving in Georgia earlier today. "The United States and Georgia have a strong relationship built upon our shared commitment to freedom and independence. We are committed to helping Georgia deepen its Euro-Atlantic ties and strengthen its democratic institutions", he stated.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry says that the visit of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo to Georgia later today ‘once again points to the firmness of the US-Georgia strategic partnership and reaffirms the commitment of the two countries to strengthen their cooperation.’ The ministry stated earlier today that the visit is yet more evidence that the United States ‘remains strongly committed to supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’, as well as the country’s ‘continuous democratic development and European and Euro-Atlantic integration’.