US State Department Counselor: US doing “everything we can” to support Georgia
He also highlighted Georgia had been a “close partner” of the United States and NATO for the past 15 years, noting US’ “strong” support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Photo: EPA-EFE / STR
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Derek Chollet, the Counselor of the United States Department of State, Wednesday said the US was doing “everything we can” to support Georgia, pointing out Washington was also working closely with the Georgian Government to find ways to support Ukraine in overcoming “enormous challenges.”
President Biden knows Georgia well. President Biden visited Georgia for the first time as a senator. The Vice President of the United States and also the Secretary of State Blinken are also well acquainted with Georgia. We do everything we can to support our Georgian friends. In my opinion, what Georgia needs mostly now is a sense of unity,” Chollet told an interview with Imedi TV.
We work closely with Tbilisi as we work together to find ways to support Ukraine in overcoming enormous challenges,” he also said in reference to Ukraine’s defence from the ongoing Russian invasion.
The US Department of State official noted Russia’s illegal occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, adding the US and other partners were opposed to the undermining of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by Moscow.
We understand very well how difficult the memories of this war are for our Georgian friends. That is why the United States must stand with Georgia and is ready to do so,” Chollet said.
He also highlighted Georgia had been a “close partner” of the United States and NATO for the past 15 years, noting US’ “strong” support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
The United States is Georgia’s main strategic partner and “everything will be done” to deepen the relations between the two states, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Wednesday.
The Georgia-US relationship today is “as strong as ever", and our friendship is based on “shared values”, said Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, on the celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between two countries.
The United States House of Representatives has approved the Georgia Support Act, establishing a “strategic partnership” between the two countries “at the legislative level”, the Georgian foreign office said on Thursday.
The United States supports Georgia’s NATO aspirations and the country is already an important partner of the alliance, Ned Price, the Spokesperson for the Department of State, said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Georgia’s Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Thursday said United States Congressmen had “clearly” expressed their political support for Georgia and willingness for even more joint projects between the two countries.
Derek Chollet, the Counselor of the United States Department of State, will visit Tbilisi on Wednesday and Thursday for consultations with Georgian partners about European security and democratic development, the State Department said on Monday.
The strategic Georgia-United States partnership and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration questions were discussed on Monday in a conversation between Ambassador of Georgia to the United States David Zalkaliani and the Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet.
Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said in a briefing on Tuesday the United States considered Georgia its strategic partner and was “well positioned” to encourage the country on its path of reforms.