Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The U.S. support for Georgia is quite straightforward, chairman of the Georgian parliament David Usupashvili told Georgian TV channels following a five-day visit to the United States which he regarded as "useful, interesting and fruitful".

The parliament speaker had a meeting with Senator John McCain during which he highlighted the lawmaker's consistent readiness to assist Georgia and provide "the right advice to his old friends (from the previous government) and cooperate with new friends in the face of the new authorities."

McCain is one of the five senators who has sent a letter to Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili in December and expressed concern over prosecution of former top officials.

Usupashvili delivered a report on `Governance and Democratic Reforms in Georgia` at the Carnegie Hall last Thursday during his official visit to the U.S., rustavi2.com reported. He began the speech with the foreign policy priorities of Georgia and introduced a resolution adopted by the Georgian parliament which reflected the European course of the country.

Usupashvili said Georgia's integration into the NATO and EU, participation in the NATO-led ISAF security mission in Afghanistan and commitments to international security were the priorities of Georgia.

He also touched on the need for settling the strained relations with Russia, as well as Georgia's intention to participate in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics though he added that this would not be easy for Georgian athletes.

"We may not join any union, either military or political, which includes a country that has occupied our territories. This will of our people is reflected in our victory in the election and confidence expressed in the new government. However, the initiative of our government is to find ways, even narrow ones, for the settlement of relations with Russia. I am talking about trade, cultural and sports relations," Usupashvili said.

Georgia and Russia have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008, when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the breakaway regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008 and broke off relations with Moscow.

Usupashvili also analyzed the political situation in Georgia and challenges facing its economy, stressing the high rates of unemployment and poverty.

Speaking about the priorities of the new government, he said these are the development of agriculture, access to healthcare, protection of workers' rights, improvement of the election law, etc.

Director of the Russian and Eurasian Program at the Carnegie Endowment, James Collins, noted that Georgia is on the right course of development and the country's government is to continue the search for common interests and consolidation.

According to the Eurasia Centre Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council Linda Linderman, the visits to the U.S. of Georgia's Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, and now Speaker Usupashvili were of great importance.