USA: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hosts meetings with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
Record ID:
643477
USA: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hosts meetings with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
- Title: USA: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hosts meetings with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
- Date: 1st May 2013
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 1, 2013) (STATE DEPARTMENT TELEVISION) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY AND GEORGIAN PRESIDENT MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING: "We are very grateful in the United States for the assistance that Georgia has given us with respect to Afghanistan. Georgia is the largest contributor of troops of a non-NATO country and they have also made significant commitments with respect to post 2014. Just as importantly, we are very supportive of Georgia's aspirations with respect to NATO and Europe and we applaud the democratic transition that has been taking place. The president engaged in the first peaceful election transfer of power and I know is committed to continue the work for the democratic aspiration of the Rose Revolution ." (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGIAN PRESIDENT MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI SAYING: "And of course, you know we are here to talk about NATO, we want Americas support on NATO, we want Americas support on further (unintelligible) at this very difficult and crucial moment for Georgia's democracy and Georgia's survival. " KERRY AND SAAKASHVILI SHAKING HANDS AND EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES KERRY AND SAAKASHVILI EXITING
- Embargoed: 16th May 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA48NBDH6PYMQH5EJW2UMV0QL50
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili at the State Department on Wednesday (May 1) for bi-lateral meetings centered around Georgia's goals to become part of NATO as well and the country's continued democratic transition.
"We are very supportive of Georgia's aspirations with respect to NATO and Europe and we applaud the democratic transition that has been taking place. The president engaged in the first peaceful election transfer of power and I know is committed to continue the work for the democratic aspiration of the Rose Revolution," Kerry told reporters.
Saakashvili, who was first elected after leading the peaceful "Rose Revolution" protests in 2003 that swept out the old guard, has cultivated close relations with Washington, and his efforts to bring Georgia into NATO were one of the factors that led to the five-day war with Russia in 2008.
"You know we are here to talk about NATO, we want Americas support on NATO," Saakashvili said.
Georgia, a Caucasus state, is a conduit for pipelines pumping Caspian Sea energy westward and a platform for geopolitical rivalry between the United States and Russia. - Copyright Holder: STATE DEPARTMENT TV
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