US official stresses Georgia “critically important” for regional peace, stability
In his remarks, Reeker, who is on a visit to Georgia, noted the country continued to contribute to regional security. Photo: Kostas Tsironis/EPA
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Philip Reeker, the senior adviser of the United States department of state for Caucasus negotiations, on Thursday said Georgia's role was “critically important” for regional peace, stability and interconnectivity.
In his remarks, Reeker, who is on a visit to Georgia, noted the country continued to contribute to regional security.
I am delighted to be back in Georgia - a country that is critically important for regional peace, stability and interconnectivity. When I was here last year I worked closely with Georgian leaders to mediate between your neighbours, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Prime minister Irakli Garibashvili played an indispensable role in ensuring the release of detainees and sharing the location of landmines in combat zones”, Reeker said.
The US official also stressed his country remained “committed” to helping ensure the “security and prosperity” of Georgia.
The US remains committed to helping ensure the security and prosperity of Georgia as we have for the past 30 years. This includes our full commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are proud to stand with Georgia as you pursue NATO and EU membership”, he noted.
“The US will continue to do what we can to help you achieve Euro-Atlantic integration because that’s the future the people want and deserve”, Reeker concluded.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Philip Reeker, the Senior Adviser of the United States Department of State for Caucasus Negotiations and the Geneva International Discussions, met in Tbilisi on Monday to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine, regional and global security challenges and the situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, the Administration of the Government of Georgia said.
Azerbaijan has released 15 Armenian citizens through the facilitation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker.
United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker has stated in Tbilisi that Georgia remains the US’s top strategic partnership in the South Caucasus and a crucial partner in the Black Sea region. He said that his recent visit to Georgia aimed to ensure the further development of Georgia as a safe and a democratic country ‘for which the implementation of the April 19 EU-mediated agreement is important.’
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed the importance of the United States-Georgia strategic partnership and the “positive dynamic” in existing cooperation with Philip Reeker, the state department senior adviser for Caucasus negotiations and the Geneva International Discussions.
Georgia’s strategic partnership with the United States and the cooperation between the two countries were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and general Christopher Cavoli, the commander of the United States European Command.
General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of the United States European Command, on Thursday highlighted “fantastic progress” made by the Georgian defence forces over the years.
United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Wednesday said the US had been one of Georgia’s most “steadfast supporters” in the effort to help establish “stable democracy” over the past 30 years.
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 “difficult” situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia amid the war in Ukraine and the security situation in the Black Sea region were discussed on Monday in a meeting between David Zalkaliani, the Georgian Ambassador to the United States and Louis Bono, the Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations of the US Department of State.
The situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, UN Representative Cihan Sultanoğlu, EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar and Siegfried Woeber, the senior political officer from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center.
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.
Tamar Beruchashvili, the Georgian Ambassador to Romania, on Tuesday said the security of the Black Sea region was “inherently” tied to the security of the country “and vice versa”.