Georgian Parliament official, US Assistant Secretary of State discuss ties
The parties pointed out security challenges in the South Caucasus region and the importance of Georgia’s involvement in the process of promoting stability and peace in the region, with officials emphasising the need for US involvement in the Black Sea region and agreeing to continue work for the purpose. Photo: Nikoloz Samkharadze/twitter
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Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday met James O’Brien, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, to discuss relations between the two countries.
Meeting during an official visit of a Georgian delegation to Washington, the officials also discussed upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia and the pre-election environment in the country, as well as the importance of the country joining NATO and the European Union.
“Ongoing processes” in the Georgian domestic politics and the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence, which calls for registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, were also reviewed.
The parties also noted the upcoming Washington summit, scheduled on July 9-11 and set to feature heads of state and leaders of governments from the 32 NATO member and partner countries, as well as European Union representatives.
The delegation also held meetings with US Congress representatives Tim Kaine, Keith Self, William Keating and Jim Costa to discuss strategic relations between the two countries and possibilities of deepening ties.
The meeting also discussed Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), the importance of the country's accession to NATO and dynamics of Georgia-EU relations.
The parties pointed out security challenges in the South Caucasus region and the importance of Georgia’s involvement in the process of promoting stability and peace in the region, with officials emphasising the need for US involvement in the Black Sea region and agreeing to continue work for the purpose.
The Parliament said the delegation’s meetings also featured Josh Huck, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus, and Mark Cameron, the Director of the US State Department's Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts.