Prime Minister opens new Georgian Embassy in USA

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili has opened the new Georgian Embassy building in the United States of America.

Garibashvili and a small Georgian delegation are in America on their first official visit, which includes meeting with high US officials at the White House.

Yesterday, the Georgian PM was involved in the opening ceremony of the new Georgian Embassy building in Washington DC.

The ceremony was also attended by the Foreign Minister of Georgia Maia Panjikidze, Georgia’s State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili and the US Ambassador in Georgia Richard Norland.

Norland congratulated the Georgian delegation on the new Embassy building and said it was in a very good location and was close to other countries’ Embassies.

"It is a great opportunity for Georgia to present itself in the U.S. positively following the democratic elections in the country where the transition of the authority had been held in a peaceful manner. During the high level meetings [in the US] it will be possible to deepen the cooperation between two countries and discuss the issues in the regional framework, as well as the Ukraine crisis,” Norland said.

Speaking from Washington, he added PM Garibashvili – the world’s youngest leader – was looking forward to meeting American high officials and becoming acquainted with them.

Georgia’s Foreign Minister said the Georgian delegation planned to discuss domestic and foreign affairs priorities.

"I believe the cooperation with Russia will be a very interesting and heavily discussed topic by the US Government,” Panjikidze noted.

At the opening ceremony, Garibashvili made a special welcome to #31 Georgian Battalion member Sergeant Johny Topuria and honored him with the Georgia "Devoted to country” state award.

Topuria served in a peacekeeping mission in Iraq in 2006-2007 and in Afghanistan since 2010. He was injured in Afghanistan while patrolling in March 2012.

Garibashvili was invited to the US about two months ago by the American Vice-President Joe Biden. During his visit, the Prime Minister of Georgia will hold several top-level meetings.

The Georgian delegation are expected to be in America on official duties until February 28.

Welcoming ceremony at the Georgian Embassy in Washington DC. Photo by PM's press Office.