Georgia’s Zalkaliani Meets US Deputy Secretary of State
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, July 27
Foreign Minister of Georgia, David Zalkaliani had a meeting with the United States Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.
As the US Department of State reports, Sullivan thanked Georgia for its contribution to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and reinforced US support for Georgia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
The two leaders discussed outcomes of the NATO Summit and ongoing judicial and economic reforms in Georgia.
At the meeting the minister provided the Deputy Secretary of State with the information about the Georgian government’s program and the priorities the country has in terms of strengthening foreign policy as well as economic development, defense and security.
The sides talked about the recent situation in Georgia’s occupied regions, difficult human rights and humanitarian situation and the support of the international community, especially of the United States, for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
“Georgia has and will have an unwavering support of a major strategic partner US in terms of recognition of the sovereignty of the country's territorial integrity and Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The Deputy Secretary of State also supported the new plans of the Government of Georgia in terms of economic development of the country,” Zalkaliani stated when commenting on the meeting.
According to the minister, special attention was paid to deepening economic relations between Georgia and the United States.
“It was noted that our economic cooperation should be in line with the political relations we have with the US. It was a very good meeting and I think that in the future we will deepen relations in this direction,” he added.
Prior to meeting with Sullivan, Zalkaliani met Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Senator Bob Corker.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reports that the sides discussed Georgia-US strategic partnership and the further enhancement of relations, challenges in the region and the situation in the Georgian occupied regions.
Zalkaliani also met with experts of US think tanks and research centers. The strategic partnership between the US and Georgia was the major topic during the meeting, as well as Georgia’s integration process into NATO, and the country’s geostrategic importance in transnational energy and transport projects.
Zalkaliani was invited to Washington by the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo to participate in an international conference on religious freedom with 40 other foreign ministers and top officials taking part in the event.
