US official discusses strategic coop with Georgian president
By Sabina Idayatova
Issues of strategic cooperation between Georgia and the United States were discussed by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
The Georgian presidential administration said that special attention was paid to the cooperation under the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership and ensuring Georgia's defense and security.
Rubin stressed Georgia's contribution to international security and thanked the country for the participation of its contingent in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan.
Saakashvili reiterated that integration into European and Euro-Atlantic organizations remains a priority for Georgia.
Rubin acknowledged the success of Georgia on this path and called for enhanced cooperation to achieve the goals of Georgia and provide it with assistance.
The Georgian president and the American diplomat also focused on the Geneva process as well as settlement of the strained Georgian-Russian relations. Rubin said the U.S. strictly complies with the Georgian territorial integrity and sovereignty during all negotiations.
Rubin also noted the importance of the October 1 parliamentary election held in Georgia in accordance with democratic norms and the democratic transfer of power. He said the U.S. will closely follow and assess the developments in the South Caucasus republic.
During his visit Rubin also met with Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania. The talks focused on bilateral cooperation, prospects of Georgia's integration into NATO, planned defense reforms and contribution of the Georgian contingent to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, Georgian Defense Ministry told Trend on Wednesday.
Alasania said Georgia remains a reliable partner of the United States and is ready to make an even greater contribution to global security.
He thanked the State Department official for Washington's support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia.
At the meeting, Alasania also referred to NATO military committee representatives' planned visit to Georgia next year.
The sides discussed military cooperation between Georgia and the United States. Within the strategic partnership the U.S. provides assistance to Georgia in six areas, which covers issues including strengthening the capacity of anti-aircraft defense, as well as training in military engineering.
On the same day Rubin met with Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili.
The minister said that Georgia is prepared to consider new proposals to promote Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian dialogue.
"It was a useful meeting," Zakareishvili said. "The U.S. is a strategically leading state for us. Thus, consultations with the country are of great value given that the next round of the talks in Geneva format will take place soon. It will be attended by representatives of the new government."
Zakareishvili said further, "For us it was important to assure that we strongly support the Geneva format and are ready for acceleration in this direction. We clearly believe in Western support to our territorial integrity and non-recognition policy, we are ready to consider new steps on strengthening of the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian dialogue."
The Geneva talks were convened after the armed conflict in Georgia in 2008, in accordance with the August 12 ceasefire agreement reached by Russia and Georgia.
Tensions between the two neighbors rose in August 2008 when Russia crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia and later recognized the breakaway regions. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.
Georgia and the vast majority of other countries do not recognize Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence and officially consider them as sovereign territory of the Georgian state.
Rubin paid his first visit to Georgia on October 16, about two weeks after the parliamentary election in the country, which was won by tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili's opposition coalition and was followed by the formation of a new government in which Ivanishvili serves as prime minister.
The United States supports the deepening of Georgian-American relations, which help Georgia in its democratic and economic reforms.