US pledge to help Georgia in democratisation & energy security
TBILISI. July 23. KAZINFORM The U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden who has arrived in the Georgian capital for a working visit said on Wednesday that the United States considered Georgia to be an important partner. He also pledged to help Georgia in its democratic development, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
In his speech at a reception given in the Georgian president's palace, Biden said that many people around the globe were watching how Georgia was building a democratic state and how democracy would develop in Georgia because the latter was a very important country for the entire region and its future.
Biden promised to help Georgia in the provision of its energy security. He said that Washington welcomed Georgia's vital role in this process and added that it was a bridge for the transportation of natural resources from the Caspian region to the West.
The U.S. vice-president confirmed the U.S. intention to develop partnership with Georgia based on a solid basis.
In turn, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili thanked the United States for its support for the people of Georgia and the country's territorial integrity. He said that with Western help Georgia would achieve re-unification and revival by peaceful means.
Saakashvili thanked U.S. President Barack Obama for voicing his firm and clear support of Georgia's territorial integrity during his recent visit to Moscow.
The Georgian president awarded Joseph Biden with the Order of St. George - the highest civilian award in Georgia.
In the meantime, the Georgian opposition adopted an appeal to the U.S. vice-president at a rally in Tbilisi late on Wednesday. The opposition members said that they hoped that the new U.S. administration would assist in the restoration of democratic principles in the country - the observation of human rights, the freedom of press, independent courts and the holding of early elections, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.