On October 18 at the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia the Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli met U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe And Eurasia Daniel Freed.
At the meeting they discussed the support by the USA of the current democratic reforms in Georgia. The USA provided positive assessment to the local self-government elections held in Georgia on October 5 and expressed their support in connection with the transition of Georgia to the stage of intensive dialogue with NATO and plan for peaceful resolution of conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
After completion of the meeting Zurab Noghaideli and Dan Freed made their comments:
Zurab Noghaideli
In the first turn on behalf of the Government of Georgia I would like to welcome Mr. Daniel Freed here. The assistance of the USA provided to us within all those years, especially in the latest period, is very important. I cannot keep back the opinion that the visit of Mr. Freed in Tbilisi just now is very important as the relations between Russia and Georgia have been very strained. In addition I would also like to underscore the assistance of the USA and Daniel Freed in person to Georgia within the period of beginning of the intensive dialogue with NATO.
Daniel Freed
The first thing I made upon my arrival in Georgia was to have a drink of Georgian wine which I liked much. This wine is not very tasty but very health-giving and I will advise it to the American customers.
At the meeting with the Prime Minister we have discussed the successful economic reforms and the course taken by the country for integration in the European and Transatlantic family. Just now NATO has started the intensive dialogue with Georgia. I would like to confirm that I am fully backing the territorial integrity of Georgia.
At the meeting the Prime Minister presented the peaceful plan related to South Ossetia which provides very effective opportunities for the further development of the dialogue. I can repeat that the resolution of frozen conflicts shall take place with regard to the territorial integrity of Georgia, protection of rights of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Unfortunately, I have arrived in Georgia in a difficult time when the Russian-Georgian relations have been strained more. Yesterday on my arrival I got known that within the deportation died one Georgian and that is a very alarming fact. I am also worried of that oppression from the side of Russia towards the Georgians. No nation shall be insulted for its ethnic belonging. We support the constructive dialogue and I believe the Government of Georgia thinks the same.
Press Center of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia