President of Georgia and US Deputy Secretary of State Discuss Bilateral Relations and Euro-Atlantic Integration
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, July 12, 2024
President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, met with Uzra Zeya, the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, to discuss Georgian-American relations and Georgia's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. The administration of the President of Georgia disseminated this information.
The meeting took place at the Orbelian Palace, where President Zourabichvili emphasized Georgia's commitment to its European future, stating that the country has never been and will never be pro-Russian. She highlighted that the absolute majority of Georgians support the European path.
President Zourabichvili expressed gratitude to Deputy Secretary of State Zeya for the United States' strong support in various fields since Georgia's independence. The conversation also touched on the upcoming parliamentary elections, with the President noting that society, the non-governmental sector, and the youth would be fully mobilized to reaffirm Georgia's European choice.
Discussions included the postponement of military exercises and its potential consequences. The importance of the "Georgian Charter," an action plan created by the president to implement EU recommendations, was also a key topic. Signatories of the charter committed to fulfilling their obligations and returning Georgia to the European path.
Deputy Secretary of State Zeya thanked President Zourabichvili for leading Georgia's European path and reiterated the importance of the deep partnership between the US and the Georgian people. She confirmed that the US would continue to support Georgia's sovereignty. However, she also expressed concerns about anti-democratic changes by the Georgian Government, which pose challenges to the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, reflecting the will of the Georgian people.
