U.S. Lawmakers Visit Tbilisi

A group of U.S. Senate and House members visited Tbilisi on Sunday and met Georgian leadership and opposition representatives.

The delegation included Republican Senators James Inhofe and John Boozman, as well as House Republican members Ander Crenshaw; Steve Pearce and Democratic Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick.

The delegation met leaders of UNM opposition party, before talks with government members. Davit Bakradze, leader of UNM parliamentary minority group, said Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, "de-occupation" of Georgian territories and internal democratic reforms were discussed during a meeting with the group of U.S. lawmakers.

Giga Bokeria of UNM said after the meeting: "It is regrettable that Georgia meets this delegation in a condition of continued political repressions against the opposition and when the government has weakened efforts to press Russia internationally… The Georgian government should be focused on addressing strategic issues for the country and solving economic problems, instead of persecuting and jailing opponents."

The U.S. lawmakers also met President Giorgi Margvelashvili, PM Irakli Garibashvili and several cabinet members, including foreign minister, defense minister, justice minister, as well as acting chief prosecutor.

"The visit reaffirmed U.S. support for Georgia’s democratic development and territorial integrity, as well as U.S. appreciation for Georgia’s sacrifices and contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. The United States Congress strongly supports the sovereign right of Georgia to choose its own future, and we welcome their closer relationship with the EU through the Eastern Partnership program," the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi said.

"We look forward to continuing our close, constructive, and deep cooperation with Georgia – one of our closest partners and friends," it said.

“We have discussed aspects of military cooperation… especially stressing on defense capabilities,” Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said after the meeting.

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