On January 5th, the Vice Prime Minister /Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Zalkaliani, spoke in a phone call with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. During the conversation, the two leaders discussed the security environment in the region, recent developments regarding Ukraine, and Russia’s efforts to obstruct the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Ukraine.
The Deputy Secretary of State reiterated the U.S.’s unwavering support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
David Zalkaliani thanked Wendy Sherman for the coordination and information sharing ahead of the bilateral U.S.-Russia dialogue and the meetings within both the NATO-Russia Council and the OSCE, which are scheduled for next week. The phone call between the Foreign Minister and the Deputy Secretary of State took place within the United States’ ongoing consultations with NATO allies and partners.
The Georgian Foreign Minister stated that Russia’s attempts to impede Georgia’s and Ukraine’s integration into NATO contradict the norms and principles of international law. He added that the Russian rhetoric aimed at restricting the right of sovereign states to pursue an independent foreign and security policy is entirely unacceptable. The Deputy Secretary noted that the United States will continue to urge Russia to withdraw its forces to pre-war positions and comply with the 2008 ceasefire agreement.
Deputy Secretary Sherman and Foreign Minister Zalkaliani emphasized the need to uphold the right of sovereign nations to choose their own security arrangements and to support Georgia and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of continued Russian aggression.
In closing, the Foreign Minister thanked the United States for its unwavering support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration course. During the conversation, the parties agreed to continue consultations in the future.