U.S. Diplomats Meet Georgian PM

Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried and Senior Advisor for Eurasia Steven Mann discussed conflict resolution, Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspiration, energy issues and ongoing reforms in the country during the talks with Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli on March 15.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried told reporters after talks that the United States supports Georgia’s NATO aspirations.

He stressed that there should be no alternative to peaceful resolution of conflict, adding that all other solutions will have disastrous results.

“We have discussed those issues, which are of the Georgia’s foreign policy priorities. These are: peace plan over resolution of the conflict in Tskhinvali Region [South Ossetia], which is supported by the United State. The next priority is integration into NATO. You know that a team [of NATO experts] have assessed as positive reforms undertaken in frames of the Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP] with NATO and now we are working to join the Membership Action Plan [MAP]. We have also discussed ongoing reforms and investment climate in Georgia. I hope interest demonstrated by the American companies [towards Georgia] at the business forum in New York will further increase,” PM Nogaideli told reporters after the talks.

The U.S. diplomats visited Georgia on March 14-15 as a part of tour to three South Caucasus states and Turkey.