US Assistant Secretary of State vows support for Georgia’s territorial integrity, Euro-Atlantic integration
The US official stressed that broad bipartisan support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression also sent a “very strong” signal to Russia in terms of relations with Georgia. Photo: AA Photo
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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.
In her remarks at US Congress hearings on the South Caucasus region, Donfried noted the Government fully supported Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration, pointing out that the demonstration of this commitment was to encourage reforms in Georgia.
The US official stressed that broad bipartisan support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression also sent a “very strong” signal to Russia in terms of relations with Georgia.
Donfried added that Georgia was “deeply concerned” about what was happening in Ukraine and was a “partner” in this direction.
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.
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.
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”.
The United States Appropriations Act for 2023 has earmarked at least $132,025,000 in assistance for Georgia, the figures released on Tuesday show.
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.
Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, hailed Georgia’s “excellent and very close” relationship with the alliance and highlighted the country as NATO’s one of the “closest partners”, in an interview with Imedi TV on Friday.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation on Friday “applauded” the “diligent” work of Georgia to support international financial sanctions and export controls with the support of the US Embassy in the country.
Georgia and its people, as a “proud and freedom-loving nation”, share the same values and principles of freedom and democracy that “form the foundation of the enduring friendship” with the United States, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday at the official reception held at the US Embassy in Tbilisi on the occasion of the Declaration of Independence of the USA.