“The United States is absolutely and comprehensively informed about everything taking place in Georgia, and that awareness is of the highest order,” declared Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of Lelo–Strong Georgia, speaking following a meeting with Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America (USA) for European and Eurasian Affairs.

As Japaridze noted, the discussions centred on the significance of the United States to Georgia, to its security and economic development.

“The deep engagement of the United States in this region is of vital importance to our country. Accordingly, we fully support the efforts we have observed from the United States to become more actively engaged, notably in the most significant economic projects currently underway in the region. This is of immense importance to Georgia, and we wholeheartedly support it, as American involvement in key infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, is equally a matter of security.

We spoke of the pressing need for even greater effort to ensure that the United States resumes the pivotal role it has historically played in Georgia, from the moment Georgia gained its independence, as an indispensable guarantor of Georgian security and a driving force behind Georgia’s economic development,” Japaridze stated.

The meeting, held at the Tbilisi Marriott, brought together the leaders of Lelo–Strong Georgia, Gakharia for Georgia, and the Opposition Alliance. Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Alan Purcell, also attended the meeting.