Vice President Mike Pence visited Tbilisi, Georgia from July 31 to August 1. He traveled from NATO member Estonia, and left Georgia for Montenegro, the most recent addition to NATO. Pence’s trip to Eastern Europe was a follow-up to President Donald Trump’s visit to Europe earlier in July. Pence’s mission was to give encouragement to Georgia, Estonia, and Montenegro in continuing their alliance with the West and resisting Russia’s attempts to splinter the NATO alliance.
On the arrival day, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili and his wife hosted the US Vice President and his delegation members at an official dinner, where the guests enjoyed the views of the city from Tbilisi Funicular and a photo-exhibition dedicated to Georgian history.
The next day started with the official meeting, followed by a press conference with the Pence and Kvirikashvili. The parties discussed the key issues of Georgia-US strategic partnership, emphasizing the immense role that defense and security cooperation play in enhancing Georgia’s resilience. They also discussed the importance of the Noble Partner international exercises for ensuring regional security, stability, and peace.
Prime Minister of Georgia thanked United States for continuous support to Georgia: “This year marks the 25th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Throughout this time, America has played a vital role on our country’s path toward democratic and economic development, safeguarding Georgia’s sovereignty, and NATO membership.”
“Thanks to your assistance, today Georgia is neither a Soviet nor post-Soviet country. Today we are an EU-associated European democracy. Together with the Americans, we are proudly standing guard protecting global security and making our contribution to regional stability,” he continued.
“The Georgian nation deeply appreciates the American people’s friendship, solidarity, and strong support.”
The Prime Minister of Georgia and the US Vice President also discussed the state of affairs in Georgia’s occupied territories. Kvirikashvili singled out the occupied territories as the country’s biggest issue, where US support is key to peaceful conflict resolution. The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked Mike Pence for the US’ support of Georgia’s sovereignty: “We deeply appreciate the US’ strong and unwavering stance on Georgia’s territorial integrity. The decisions made by President Trump, you personally, Mr. Vice President, the new Administration, and the Congress on Georgia’s occupied territories have proved unprecedented.”
“Georgia faces endless provocations daily. On the occupation line, we are facing challenges of borderization, capturing, kidnapping of ethnic Georgians — violating basic human rights of ethnic Georgians residing on the occupied territories,” he stated. “But the response to that is only even more resolve and consistency and dedication to the goals we set for ourselves… I would like to reaffirm that Georgia has always been and will always be by the US’ side when it comes to any challenge or threat facing the world.”
Pence reaffirmed US support of Georgia: “The President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump, sent me here with a simple message for you and for the people of Georgia: We are with you. We stand with you. We are proud of our friendship and strategic partnership with the nation and the people of Georgia.”
“In word, I’m here to say America First does not mean America alone. And America stands with Georgia,” the Vice President said to a crowd of Georgian and US soldiers. “At this very moment, just 40 miles from where we stand, Russian tanks stand on occupied territory in South Ossetia. Today, Russia continues to occupy one-fifth of Georgian territory.”
“To be clear: The United States of America strongly condemns Russia’s occupation on Georgia’s soil. The United States supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”
The US Vice President also underscored the invaluable contribution of Georgian troops to strengthening international security: “Georgia is a key strategic partner of the United States of America… Since 2004, thousands of Georgians have served shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans — in Kosovo, in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.”
Their official conversation also included the reform agenda of the Georgian Government. According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, today the country offers one of the best business environments, with extremely low rates of corruption and red tape, and equally low taxes, which attract American businesses. The interest and engagement of American companies in the regional infrastructural projects implemented in Georgia was also discussed as a crucial step forward for Georgia.
“The Anaklia deep-sea port shows the potential of a stronger bilateral relationship between our nations. American companies are investing alongside their Georgian counterparts in this multi-billion-dollar project. As we look toward the future, our two nations have untold opportunities to contribute even more to each other’s prosperity,” the US Vice President said.
“We also believe that in addition to security partnership, that a stronger and more prosperous Georgia will lead to a restoration of a whole and free Georgia. And so the United States will continue to look for ways that we can strengthen Georgia not only from the standpoint of its defense and security, but where we can strengthen Georgia economically, creating jobs and opportunity and prosperity, and strengthening the hand of Georgia so that one day, Georgia can once again celebrate its historic territorial integrity intact,” Pence also noted.
Both leaders expressed a strong commitment to joining efforts and further deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. According to Kvirikashvili, Georgia enjoys immense support from the US, and this presents a historic opportunity: “On behalf of the people of Georgia and each of us, I would like to thank the US Vice President in person and the whole US administration for this loud support. I would like to proudly indicate that each of the three areas prioritized by our team since coming to power, including security and stability, democracy and human rights protection, alongside with economic development that shall ultimately guarantee the prosperity of our citizens, has been appraised very highly.”
“Such assessment entails even higher degree of responsibility and inspires us to lead the country to an ultimate peaceful unification. It also inspires us to implement our priorities in a consistent manner thus ensuring prosperity for our country,”Kvirikashvili noted.
During his visit to Tbilisi, the US Vice President also met with the service members participating in the Noble Partner 2017 multinational military exercises, comprised of eight countries and led by the US. In addition, he also visited the Sioni Cathedral in old Tbilisi, hosted by the Patriarch of Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II.