FM Zalkaliani meets US Senators in Washington

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Thursday, February 6

Senator Risch: “We are not asking Georgia to be perfect, but the government must show us it is serious about its pursuit of democracy.”

Republican Congressman Devin Nunes says Georgia is making a significant contribution to Euro-Atlantic security, and the US is keen to continue working closely with the Georgian gov’t as the country’s economy continues to grow and relations develop.

U.S. Senators Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, met with David Zalkaliani, foreign minister of Georgia yesterday in Washington.

A week ago, Republican Senator Risch and Democratic Subcommittee Leader Shaheen sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, discussing issues that they said were hampering Georgia's democratic development.

The alarming signs outlined in the letter as well as 2020 parliamentary elections were discussed during the meeting and according to Senator Risch, they were given the assurances that things would change and future elections would be conducted in a democratic environment.

Zalkaliani said that it was a “meeting of friends, strategic partners” and in the context of the processes mentioned in the letter, "he has stated a very well-grounded, argumentative position."

Following a meeting with the Georgian side, co-author of the letter of concern, Shaheen, told Voice of America that she hoped the United States would be able to continue its support.

Also, two senators issued a joint statement after the meeting, assessing it as a productive conversation. Senator Risch said in a press release that they had reiterated the issues discussed in a letter to the Georgian delegation about the signs of weakening democracy. In his statement, the senator also said that the Georgian side should take serious steps towards bettering the democracy.

According to the statement, the meeting also discussed the current situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“The Russian Federation continues to move fences and annually annexes a small plot of land,” was said in the joint release. The senators reaffirmed strong support to Georgia’s democratic transformation, yet emphasized the necessity of positive steps.

“The government must show that it is serious about moving towards democracy.”

In a press release, the meeting is also evaluated by Senator Shaheen, who expects Georgia to implement the promised electoral reform. She will continue to urge PM Gakharia and the Georgian government to hold fast to their commitments to strengthen democratic institutions, promote judicial independence, move forward on the promised electoral reforms and respect civil society engagement.

The Georgian Foreign Minister will finish his meetings in Washington on February 6. The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Archil Talakvadze will also join him in the US capital. They will hold meetings with the State Department and administration in addition to Congress.