Current developments in Georgia and the Black Sea region were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and Bonnie Jenkins, the United States undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.
The meeting focused on the development of bilateral relations between Georgia and the US, with Jenkins confirming the “full support” of her country for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and expressing “readiness” to strengthen the strategic partnership, the presidential administration said.
The officials said the ongoing war in Ukraine had a “great impact” on the security and stability of the Black Sea region, Europe and the world in general, noting Georgia had provided assistance to Ukraine in various directions and “strictly followed” the established international financial sanctions.
Our region is changing. Peace, security, stability are needed to move forward. What's important is to see our closest partners get involved in the process
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) October 7, 2022
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Zourabichvili and Jenkins also reviewed the current situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia and the “threats and risks” created in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine in terms of human rights protection. They also discussed the security issues of the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus and Georgia’s role in facing them.
Zourabichvili spoke about the “importance” of Georgia's participation in the meeting of world leaders in the format of the European Political Community in Prague, which she said ”proves that Georgia is a valuable partner for the European Union in terms of strengthening security and stability in the region”.
The meeting also touched on the country’s European perspective and the implementation of EU conditions for obtaining the membership candidate status.