Finance minister: US “strategic partner”, further development of cooperation “very important”
He also pointed out a reduction of domestic political polarisation required not only government efforts but also involvement of the opposition, but added “[a]ll points [of the EU conditions] will be completed in time”. Photo: MOF of Georgia
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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”.
Khutsishvili was commenting on the statement of Ned Price, the US state department spokesperson, who on Monday said the United States had “voiced our concern about some of the Georgian governments’ actions” and urged it to “demonstrate its commitment to EU integration by adopting reforms necessary to move forward on that path”.
In his remarks over the matter, Khutsishvili noted the government had created working groups for the implementation of EU recommendations for granting the country the membership candidate status, with the process ongoing at a pace ”necessary for implementing specific conditions”.
He also pointed out a reduction of domestic political polarisation required not only government efforts but also involvement of the opposition, but added “[a]ll points [of the EU conditions] will be completed in time”.
On June 24, the European Council granted the membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and said it would be ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission are addressed by the Georgian government.
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.
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”.
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.
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”.
Current and planned projects supported by the World Bank in Georgia were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian finance minister Lasha Khutsishvili and officials of the institution.
The United States Appropriations Act for 2023 has earmarked at least $132,025,000 in assistance for Georgia, the figures released on Tuesday show.
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.
Reforms implemented in Georgia, including in combating corruption, were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Richard Nephew, the Coordinator of the United States Department of State on Global Anti-Corruption.