US assistant secretary of state vows support for Georgia’s desire to join EU
In her remarks, Donfried noted the US was working with the two countries to support them in putting in place the reforms that would “hasten” their EU membership. Photo: AA Photo
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The United States “strongly supports” the desire of Georgia and Moldova to join the European Union, Karen Donfried, the United States assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, said on Tuesday.
In her remarks, Donfried noted the US was working with the two countries to support them in putting in place the reforms that would “hasten” their EU membership.
The United States strongly supports the desire of Georgia and Moldova to join the European Union. We have important signals for both countries from the European Union about their future in the EU”, Donfried said.
She also stressed her government aligned the assistance for the two countries with partners in the EU to try to help them undertake the reforms.
“We will remain committed to that. Their path to EU membership is very clear, they know what they need to do and they are committed to doing so”, Donfried concluded.
The 2022 national security strategy of the United States, published on October 13, outlined the country would support the “European aspirations” of Georgia and Moldova and their commitment to “important institutional reforms”.
Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili on Monday said meeting the European Union’s 12-point conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status was a “challenge” for the country, adding Georgia was not competing with “anyone but itself” in the process.
The 2022 national security strategy of the United States outlines the country will support “European aspirations” of Georgia and Moldova and their commitment to “important institutional reforms”.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, on Thursday said the European Union wanted Georgia to “advance and succeed” on its EU path, as the country is working to meet the bloc’s 12-point conditions for receiving the membership candidate status.
Speaker of the Georgian parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said once the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status were implemented, Georgian authorities expected the bloc to assess the process “as quickly as possible” and make an “appropriate decision”.
Ulrik Tideström, the ambassador of Sweden to Georgia, on Tuesday said the European Union had opened its door to Georgia and “clearly recognised” the country’s European perspective.
Georgian finance minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Tuesday said the United States was Georgia’s “strategic partner”, adding the quality of cooperation between the sides and its further development was “very important”.
Prospects of Georgia's European integration and ongoing work in the process were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and Tamar Taliashvili, the newly appointed representative of the country to the Council of Europe.
Karen Donfried, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on Thursday said her Government continued to stand with Georgia and would protect the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders.
The European Union has recognised Georgia's European perspective, and it is up to candidate countries to reform their economies and their institutions and “advance towards our Union”, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said on Wednesday.
Richard Nephew, the Coordinator of the United States Department of State on Global Anti-Corruption, will travel to Armenia and Georgia from Monday to Thursday.