TBILISI, March 3 – Members of a Georgian parliamentary delegation met with U.S. Senator Steve Daines during a visit to the United States, with both sides discussing the future of Georgian-American relations and regional security issues.
According to Georgia’s parliament press service, the meeting focused on improving relations between the two countries and restoring their strategic partnership.
The delegation was led by Nikoloz Samkharadze, chairman of the Georgian parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee. He told the American side that Georgia is ready to renew its strategic partnership with the United States and begin what he described as a new chapter in relations that would deepen cooperation and benefit both countries.
Participants in the meeting paid particular attention to strengthening the economic dimension of bilateral ties.
Security issues in the South Caucasus were also discussed. Members of the Georgian delegation highlighted threats stemming from what they described as the ongoing occupation of parts of Georgia’s territory.
Another topic was the so-called Middle Corridor, a trade route connecting Europe and Asia through the South Caucasus. Georgian lawmakers underlined Georgia’s strategic role in the corridor.
The sides also discussed developments in the Middle East and how those events could affect regional security.
The delegation visiting Washington includes Mariam Lashkhi, chair of the parliament’s Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee, Lika Shartava, a member of the Committee on European Integration, and Eka Sepashvili, a representative of the parliamentary opposition group People’s Power.
