US Deputy Assistant Secretary Erika Olson visiting Georgia
In Tbilisi the US Deputy Assistant Secretary is scheduled to meet representatives from across the political spectrum. Photo: Georgian PM's press office
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United States Deputy Assistant Secretary Erika Olson has arrived in Tbilisi as part of her trip to the South Caucasus.
During the meeting with Olson, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said ‘strong partnership’ between Georgia and the US is important amid the existing geopolitical environment.
He then thanked the US for its unwavering support to Georgia, its progress and European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
.@StateEUR DAS Erika Olson will travel to???????????????? &????????to promote regional cooperation, discuss bilateral issues & participate in a regional COM meeting in Nov 2-4, joining U.S. Ambassadors to ???????????????? & ????????, Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations & USAID DAA
— US Embassy, Armenia (@usembarmenia) November 2, 2021
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Speaking of the security environment and the challenges at the Black Sea as well as the South Caucasus regions, PM Garibashvili said Georgia remains a loyal partner for the US in the region.
On her part Olson hailed Georgia for assisting the US in evacuation efforts from Afghanistan.
In Tbilisi the US Deputy Assistant Secretary will meet representatives from across the political spectrum, the US Embassy to Georgia says.
She will also attend a cultural event and visit an Embassy-supported project that furthers US-Georgian strategic goals.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Tbilisi earlier today, where he said that the American official’s visit ‘is a very strong message in support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Georgia next week is ‘historic’ and reaffirms America’s strong support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Zalkaliani said earlier today that the visit points to the ‘special attitude’ of the US to strategic partnership with Georgia, which is based on ‘common values, interests and goals.’
United States Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said the US is ‘enormously grateful to the huge network of countries that have provided critical assistance’ for their evacuation efforts from Afghanistan, including Georgia.
US president Joe Biden has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on victory in the parliamentary elections and stated that Armenian prisoners’ safe return with Georgia’s support after the war with Azerbaijan ‘will be an important basis for further regional cooperation.’ Nikol Pashinyan’s political party Civil Pact won the snap parliamentary elections in Armenia in late June which were scheduled due to the political crisis caused by the war with Azerbaijan.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has been invited to participate in the Summit for Democracy organised by US President Joe Biden. President Biden will host a virtual summit on 9-10 December for government officials, civil society members and private sector representatives.
Head of Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, Anri Okhanashvili, says he is eager to listen to a ‘concrete argument’ from the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson on why she is unhappy with the Georgian government’s efforts to reform the country’s electoral and judiciary systems.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed his country’s strategic partnership with the United States, security challenges in the South Caucasus and the wider world, and Tbilisi’s European Union integration prospects with Erika Olson, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.