We want Georgia to be a member of the European Union. I know that many of you have worked very hard to achieve this, and I know that you will work even harder in the coming months and years in the legislative and other necessary directions to make the 9 priorities a reality. The United States of America will continue to support you in this effort, – US Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan said during her speech at the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia this week.
The Ambassador expressed her hope that the Georgian Government will cooperate closely with civil society, because, in the end, “consensus and unity within Georgian society will be necessary for EU membership.”
“Georgia’s EU candidate status received last December is a big step forward. Congratulations again! We want Georgia to be a member of the European Union. I know that many of you have worked very hard to achieve this, and I know that you will work even harder in the coming months and years in legislative and other necessary directions to ensure that the 9 priorities are met. The United States of America will continue to support you in this effort. We also hope that you will work closely with civil society organizations and all segments of society to take this process forward. Ultimately, consensus and unity within Georgian society will be needed to achieve EU membership.
“One of the first things I did after I arrived in Georgia was to travel to Brussels to talk to EU officials about Georgia’s candidate status and what the United States could contribute [to the process]. We are now working daily with the EU, Georgia and others to see how our assistance can be most useful in the work you are doing in meeting the 9 requirements.
“I was very happy to see that the first trip of the Prime Minister of Georgia was to Brussels to meet with the high officials of the European Union and discuss Georgia’s candidate status. Also, I am glad to see that the Prime Minister of Georgia met with NATO representatives and once again confirmed Georgia’s NATO-EU aspirations, which we also strongly support.
“To summarize, you have a very busy year ahead of you, you are working on the necessary steps to advance Georgia on the Euro-Atlantic path, and you are preparing for the elections,” said Dunnigan.
She also emphasized the importance of the meeting with Prime Minister Kobakhidze and noted that the meeting was very productive.
“Last Friday, I had the opportunity to discuss the bond on which our relationship is based during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze. It was a very positive and productive meeting. In my conversation with the Prime Minister, I once again reiterated my readiness to deepen our strategic relationship and emphasized my priorities as ambassador, which include supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory, supporting our bilateral trade investments, including the Middle Corridor, and strengthening our military partnership, which is the cornerstone of the relationship, and supporting our cultural relationship,” said the Ambassador.
