A clear signal on Georgia’s future

Last week was remarkable for my country Georgia – in one week the United States, NATO, and the European Union all acted in different ways to show their unbreakable support for Georgia’s continued Western integration and development.

On Sept. 8, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Resolution 660, conveying America’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity.  The legislation was introduced by Reps. Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Co-Chairs of the United States House of Representatives Georgia Caucus, and received strong bipartisan support with a vote of 410 to 6. 

{mosads}The bill represents a major statement by the United States in support of Georgia, a key strategic U.S. ally, and its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of continued Russian aggression. Passage of this resolution sends a strong message about the deep and lasting friendship between Georgia and the United States.

Also, on Sept. 7-8, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the entire North Atlantic Council visited Georgia to discuss further deepening Georgia’s cooperation and interoperability with NATO and strengthening our resilience capabilities. We just celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of the Georgia-NATO Joint Training and Evaluation Center and are providing a company-size unit to NATO’s Rapid Response Force. Allies are also providing support for the development of Georgia’s air defense and air surveillance capabilities.

Finally, last week, the European Parliament’s Justice and Home Affairs Committee acted in favor of visa liberalization for Georgian citizens, setting up the last step for Georgia’s citizens to be granted expanded access to the European Union. This follows Georgia entering into an Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU, all of which cement Georgia’s position as a true and integrated member of the European family.

This week I am visiting Washington to thank our friends for their support during this critical time for Georgia.  We continue to live with the tragic consequences of Russia’s large-scale military aggression in the August 2008 War. Twenty percent of our territory remains occupied, and hundreds of thousands of people have been forcefully driven from their homes.

Moreover, Moscow has begun the creeping annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, integrating them into Russia’s military, economic, and social systems. This flagrantly infringes the fundamental principles of international law. 

In this environment, American and European support remains instrumental to ensuring Georgia’s secure and peaceful development.  These recent acts of support and friendship are a clarion reminder of the unbreakable bond between Georgia and the United States and European Union.  

Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Tbilisi this summer underscored the importance of close bilateral cooperation.  Prime Minister Kvirikashvili and Secretary Kerry signed a Memorandum on Deepening the Defense and Security Relationship between our two nations that increases cooperation in areas of vital importance for Georgia’s military.

During Secretary Kerry’s visit, we jointly launched a new initiative on economic resiliency aimed at developing the skills of Georgian businesspeople, improving income generation in rural households, and ensuring the inclusion of ethnic and religious minorities, as well as communities in the vicinity of Abkhazian and Tskhinvali regions/South Ossetia, in Georgia’s economic growth.

The devotion of Georgia’s people to the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration is central to Georgia’s long-term security and economic vibrancy.  Georgians of all economic classes and political affiliations and from all regions share the dream of being members of NATO and the European Union.  Georgians want more freedom and the opportunity to enjoy a prosperous, interconnected, and democratic future.

Georgia will hold parliamentary elections on Oct. 8. In a break with the past, this election campaign has already been going on for three months without major incident in a free, yet peacefully competitive, environment.  While there are policy differences between many of the political parties running for office, it is remarkable that all major parties are unified in their commitment to European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The Georgian Government is working hard to ensure that these elections are truly free and fair and meet the highest democratic standards.  I am confident that the outcome will represent the will of the Georgian people and will be another milestone on the road to Georgia’s democratic consolidation.

In close cooperation with the United States, Georgia is working to forge a more secure, democratic, and prosperous future.

David Bakradze is State Minister of Georgia for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.