U.S. Official: Progress in Georgia Very Impressive

Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, welcomed the progress achieved by Georgia following the Rose Revolution as very ?impressive?, saying that much is still to be done, particularly in regard to NATO integration.

?In Georgia there is a national consensus about NATO membership, and Georgia has every right to seek to join NATO, but it is a lot of work. It is not just desire. It is willingness and ability to meet NATO standards,? Fried said at a press roundtable with Edward R. Murrow Journalist Exchange participants on April 11.

He said that the opposition in Georgia should recognize that the United States were never uncritical of shortcomings in Georgia. 

?Whenever I am in Georgia I see civil society; I see the opposition. It is the nature of democracy that it believes that no ruler, no ruling party has a monopoly of truth. The Bolsheviks said they had a monopoly of truth and look how that turned out,? Fried said.

He noted that until the Rose Revolution Georgia was ?a rapidly failing state.?

?Now, after I think now three and a half years, economic growth is up, investment is up, the energy situation, which was every winter a disaster, was the best this year it has ever been or been in years. Corruption in many areas is down,? he added.

?If you look at where Georgia should be and where we think it will be in 25 years, there is a lot to do. There are a lot of shortcomings, there are a lot of reforms that need doing, and we do talk to the government about it,? Fried said.

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