On 4-14 December 2006, Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli was on a working visit to the United States of America.
As part of the visit, the Prime Minister held a number of important meetings, including the meeting with Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler that was held on 11 December. Robert Wexler is a member of the International Relations Committee for the Chamber of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America. At the meeting, the parties discussed the current political and economic reforms in Georgia, the America-Georgian relations, including free trade perspectives between the two countries and conflict resolution issues. Congressman Wexler expressed full support to the course taken by the Government of Georgia. This course implies continuation of the reforms, institutionalization of democracy and integration of Georgia into European and European-Atlantic structures.
At the meeting between Zurab Noghaideli and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the parties discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral and multilateral relations. The Prime Minister of Georgia focused on the current self-government, justice and economic reforms as well as the energy security issues of South Caucasus, namely of Europe and European-Atlantic community in relation to Georgia. The parties paid special attention to the process of resolution of Georgia's conflicts and to the American involvement in the process. The US Secretary of State voiced support to the domestic and foreign policy course pursued by Georgia, stressing that Georgia can continue enjoying friendship and support of USA.
After the meeting with the US Secretary of State, the Prime Minister headed to the White House, meeting there with the Aide of the US President for Energy Issues Steven Hadley and discussing the progress of reforms in Georgia, energy security and conflict resolution issues as well as the prospects of free trade with the United States of America. Steven Hadley stressed that the US Administration supports the efforts of the Government of Georgia towards deeper institutional reforms and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
On 12 December, the Prime Minister of Georgia met Vice-President of the United States of America Richard Chaney. At the meeting, Zurab Noghaideli underscored the importance of the role of South Caucasus in general and Georgia in particular in the global energy security. The parties touched upon the importance of resolution of conflicts in Georgia and of the involvement of the United States of America in the process.
On 14 December, the Prime Minister of Georgia was received by Senator Richard Lugar. The parties discussed energy issues, conflict resolution issues and Georgia's accession to NATO. The Senator expressed full support to Georgia, stating: I am glad to know that despite the sanctions imposed by Russia, Georgia has a high economic growth indicator.
These meetings and the visit in general further strengthened the political cooperation between Georgia and USA, including in such areas as exploring avenues for finding a peaceful resolution to the conflicts with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region and partnership in European-Atlantic and European energy security.
New economic cooperation perspectives were identified, as evidenced from the participation of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a US Government Agency, in the implementation of specific projects in Tbilisi. In particular, OPIC signed two documents with GMT Group. One is intended to allocate a 4-mln-loan towards SANTE network expansion in Georgia and the other - to involve OPIC in the implementation of the project designed to build a multi-functional complex on Mtatsminda.
Equally fruitful were the meetings with international financial institutions and US business circles. These meetings were intended to intensify the current reforms in our country and attract US investments to the Georgian economy. In this respect, on 12 December Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli had an important meeting with Executive Director of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) John Danilovich. At the meeting, the parties stressed the importance of the Foundation's support to the development of infrastructure in Georgia that at this point implies the rehabilitation of Samtskhe-Javakheti Gas Pipeline as well as the regional infrastructure. The parties also discussed the opportunity for the Foundation to issue the second compact (financing) to Georgia.
The meeting with Deputy Secretary of Commerce David Simpson was also important. The discussion touched upon the economic reforms currently underway in Georgia, the prospects for deepening trade relations between the two countries and the opportunity to sign a free trade agreement between the United States of America and Georgia. At the end of the meeting, David Simpson noted that Georgia can enjoy full support from the Department.
The meeting of the Prime Minister of Georgia with The World Bank Group President Paul Wolfowitz. At the press conference held after the meeting, the parties announced to have signed a $20-mln credit agreement to finance the rehabilitation of roads in Georgia. The head of the WB Reforms Group said the reforms in Georgia were successful, stating that the new credit was allocated because of the positive effect of the reforms.
The Prime Minister of Georgia also met James Lambright, the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The parties discussed the opportunities for the bank to take part in financing the priority energy projects of Georgia.
While on a visit to the United States of America, the Prime Minister of Georgia made a speech at the 9th Annual Conference of America-Georgian Business Council held in Seattle on 5 December. In his speech, Zurab Noghaideli discussed the current economic reforms in Georgia, saying that the macroeconomic stability and attractive business environment provide favourable conditions to make investments, including American investments, in Georgia. At the same conference, Paul Dick, an Aide to the US Secretary of Commerce for European Issues, stressed that the US Government would support and encourage the development of economic and commercial relations with Georgia as a strategic partner of USA.
In turn, the Georgian wine presentations organized jointly with America-Georgia Business Council in Seattle (State of Washington), Davis and San Francisco (California), Cambridge (Massachusetts) and Washington DC prepared a foundation for increased presence of Georgian wines on the US market.
The meeting of Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli with Ambassador Susan Schwab, the United States Trade Representative, was also noteworthy. At the meeting the parties discussed the matters related to World Trade Organization as well as the opportunity to reach a free trade agreement with USA. The parties decided that a group of American experts will arrive in Tbilisi at the beginning of next year to study the question of free trade with Georgia that as such is important in terms of diversification of trade in our country.
It is also worth mentioning that as part of the visit the Prime Minister of Georgia delivered lectures in the University of California, Stanford University and Harvard University as well as in Euro-Asian Research Center and John Hopkins University. These are the institutions, the studies and opinions of which are considered even by the US Administration.
Prime Minister's Press Service