2018-02-17

As US Secretary of Defense James Mattis confirmed at today's meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the United States of America remains a firm supporter of Georgia in the process of enhancing the country's resilience and working toward its European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The meeting was held during the 54th Security Conference in Munich.

The Prime Minister thanked the Defense Secretary for his firm and active support of Georgia, also pointing out 2017 as an especially successful year in bilateral relations, thanks to support from the new US Administration.

The parties discussed regional security, Russia's aggressive actions in Georgia's occupied territories, and the grievous human rights situation on the ground. Georgia's efforts toward peaceful conflict resolution and the importance of reaching maximal results possible at the Geneva International Talks were also underscored.

The Prime Minister thanked the US for its invaluable assistance in enhancing Georgia's defense capabilities, singling out the US Defense Secretary's personal support, along with that of the US as a whole, in reaching such a high level of defense cooperation.

Special attention was paid to the implemented and planned defense reforms and cooperation under the Georgian Defense Readiness Program and armament-related activities.

The parties discussed Georgia's integration into NATO and the upcoming NATO Summit. The US unwavering stance on Georgia's NATO membership was emphasized, along with America's support of Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The US Secretary of Defense underlined Georgia's exceptional contribution and the Georgian troops' role in regional and global security, emphasizing its important to both the US and global security.

The meeting also praised Georgia's successful economic and democratic reforms promoting the country's European and Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening the country as a whole.

The Prime Minister offered the US Defense Secretary his sympathies for the loss of lives claimed by the recent school shooting in Florida, in relation to which five days of mourning were declared in the US.

Prime Minister's Press Office