US congressional delegation arrives in Georgia, visits occupation line, meets with Georgian PM
By Khatia Bzhalava
Tuesday, September 7
Five US Congressmen, Alex Mooney, Kelly Michael Armstrong, Bryan George Steil, Carol Devine Miller, and Ronald Jean Estes arrived in Georgia yesterday. The congressmen are hosted by the Prime Minister of Georgia and during their stay in Georgia between September 6-9 they will meet with Georgian officials including, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Minister of Economy Natia Turnava, and Georgian MPs.
Congressman Mooney stated yesterday that Georgia is advancing in terms of forming a democratic form of government.
According to Congressman Carol Miller, Georgia is a long-time partner of the US, and ‘The United States needs to show its support for another democracy in this part of the world’.
“It is great to have a country like Georgia that partners with the United States on so many things, including fighting against terrorism or aspirations of being with NATO and then also concerns with Russia and the activities that they are doing that particularly affect the country,” said congressman Steil.
Yesterday, the US legislators visited Odzisi, a village located near the administrative boundary dividing the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of Georgia. Alexi Batiashvili, First Deputy Head of the State Security Service briefed the congressmen on the situation on the ground, focusing on the so-called borderization process, facts of ethnic discrimination of Georgians, and the illegal detentions of the local population.
According to congressman Alex Mooney, the world needs to see the situation at the occupation line and it is important to show Russia that international partners are ‘deeply concerned about the aggression that is taking place.
“The US strongly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and their right to be in their country and we are very proud to be friends with Georgia and their government and their democracy,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller.
US Congressmen met with the PM Garibashvili at the Government Administration, where they discussed the strategic partnership between the United States and Georgia. Readiness was expressed at the meeting towards continuing the close cooperation both at the executive and legislative levels.
According to the Press Service of the Government Administration, US support in the institutional building of Georgia, the increased capability of defense, implementation of democratic reforms has been highlighted at the meeting. The discussion also touched upon the upcoming local elections and the PM stressed that ‘Georgia is ready to hold them in a free, fair and transparent manner and that the Government of Georgia welcomes the active engagement of international observers in the election process.
The focus was also made on the important role of Georgia in international security and peace operations. Georgia’s support in the emergency evacuation of people from Kabul was especially stressed.
The parties also discussed the economic relationship and as the Georgian side stressed, ‘further strengthening trade and economic relations with the United States is the top priority of the Government of Georgia’.
As Congressman Mooney stated after the meeting, the US is ‘very excited to have a good friend in this region’. “We are worried about the aggression coming from Russia. We continue to work with Georgia to ensure that the situation here is safe and secure,” he stated.
