Parliamentary delegation holds high-ranking meetings in US Department of State
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Wednesday, December 25
During an official visit to the US, the Georgian Parliamentary delegation held high-ranking meetings in the US Department of State.
Georgian MPs met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, George Kent and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Alan Purcell.
The parties touched upon the bilateral relations, ongoing reforms in Georgia and the challenges that the country encounters. Georgian MPs talked about the recent developments in the country.
Parliamentary Delegation met with the NDI President, Derek Mitchell to discuss the pre-election environment in Georgia, democratic reforms and Georgia-US relations.
As the former Chairman of the Parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze noted bilateral relations with the USA are very important for Georgia. According to him, these meetings will “highly contribute to our further relations.”
As Irakli Kobakhize said after one of the meetings, “the indication was that under no circumstances should violence be allowed on either side. This is a call to both the government and the opposition.”
Kobakhidze talked about the electoral system and said that the task of the government is to create a system that will be acceptable for everyone.
According to him, it is in the interest of American partners to continue Georgia's stable development.
As the official visit to the US ended, the US Department of State issued a special statement, urging the Georgian government to ensure that the court system and prosecution are free of political pressure.
“The United States supports a secure, prosperous, and democratic Georgia. We commend the recent progress made on the fourth wave of judicial reform and support the ongoing dialogue between representatives of the ruling party and the opposition parties on electoral reform,” reads the statement.
The US Department of State urges the Georgian government to reinforce its commitment to the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and rule of law by ensuring that its judicial and prosecutorial system is free of political bias.
“The United States will continue to work with its strategic partner Georgia to promote the rule of law and accountable institutions,” reads the statement.
The Parliamentary Delegation was composed of the Vice-Speaker, Kakha Kuchava, Majority MP, Executive Secretary of the Faction “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia” Irakli Kobakhidze and the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senaki Single Mandate MP Irakli Beraia.
