TBILISI, DFWatch – The new U.S. ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland Wednesday officially started his work.

He arrived at Tbilisi airport with his wife, where they were greeted by Chargé d’Affaires Bridget Brink and representatives of the embassy.

Norland said he is pleased to be in Georgia again and awaits an opportunity to continue building firm relations between Georgia and the USA. His first goal will be to learn about important changes, meet with representatives of politics, business and the civil society.

He said Georgia has made important steps towards building democratic institutions, but still faces challenges in consolidating the achievements.

‘It will be a great honor to understand the processes more deeply and have my part in assisting democracy, peace and prosperity in Georgia and the Caucasus region as a whole.’

Norland will participate in a two day meeting with diplomats from Georgia and other countries.

President Barack Obama presented Norland to be ambassador to Georgia on February 17. He has been ambassador to Uzbekistan and lately worked as international affairs advisor at the National War College in Washington.

Norland will be the seventh U.S. ambassador to Georgia. He replaces John Bass.

In 1993, Norland was the U.S. representative and acting head of mission of the OSCE Mission to Georgia. He worked on conflicts in Georgia’s breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia.