PM Gakharia and advisor Irakli Chikovani talk about Georgia Support Act
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Friday, October 25
Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia said that the successful vote by the US House of Representatives on the Georgia Support Act reaffirms the high-quality partnership Georgia has with its strategic partner. At the meeting of the Government of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia noted that this act would take the relations between the two countries to a new level.
"I would also like to underline a very important moment in this act: first, of course, our country's independence and territorial integrity, and it also underscores the need to strengthen Georgia's security context and protect human rights in the occupied territories,” noted the PM.
According to the PM, the economic side of the act also represents a very important topic for Georgia. “We very much respect the proposal made in this Act to impose appropriate sanctions, but we should also note that the economic component of this Act is also very important and emphasizes the activation of a possible free trade regime. All this will take the relations between the two countries to a whole new level,” noted Gakharia saying that this act represents a confirmation of the successful reforms and democratization that has been going on in Georgia in recent years.
As the Georgian Prime Minister's Advisor Irakli Chikovani stated during yesterday’s briefing on the passage of the Georgia Support Act by the US House of Representatives, the bipartisan act passed recently by the US House of Representatives will further bolster Georgia-US defense, security, economic, and cybersecurity cooperation.
According to Chikovani, it is the first standalone legislation related to Georgia.
"Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia thanks the US House of Representatives for this decision, and we, of course, see opportunities further to cement our relations. This act is direct proof of Georgia-US relations reaching an all-time high," emphasized the Prime Minister's Advisor.
According to Chikovani, the document states unequivocally that the occupation of Georgia's territories is illegal, and everyone is obligated to fulfill the previously achieved peacebuilding agreement.
"Importantly, the act imposes sanctions on those complicit in human rights violations in the occupied territories, and the United States will take that into account. Equally importantly, the document urges the US Trade Representative to move forward with negotiations on free trade with Georgia. The act underlines that these negotiations represent a step forward toward enabling Georgia's economy to develop, and providing American companies with access to larger markets," noted Chikovani.
According to him, the legislation covers every issue important to Georgia.
"We will continue working with our strategic partners to make sure that the Senate passes this piece of legislation. Most importantly, however, this act has no opponents, as it enjoys full support from both Republicans and Democrats. The Prime Minister of Georgia expresses gratitude to the US House of Representatives for supporting this act," stated the PM’s advisor.
