US Representative Poe supports granting NATO Membership Action Plan to Georgia

An American Congressman has re-confirmed his support for Georgia in its bid to gain a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) during a meeting with Georgia’s Prime Minister in Washington.

US Representative Ted Poe met Irakli Garibashvili yesterday and told the Georgian leader he and many other influential American’s believed Georgia should be granted a MAP by the end of this year.

Garibashvili believed the support of such valued friends, such as Representative Poe and other influential Americans, was essential for Georgia, the Prime Minister’s press office reported.

Poe was among a group of US Congressmen who sent a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to grant Georgia with a MAP at the NATO 2014 Summit.

The letter, sent in early February on behalf of 42 US Congressmen, welcomed the USA’s efforts to make the NATO 2014 Summit a priority for the Alliance’s expansion.

At the meeting the parties also discussed the USA-Georgia relationship and how both parties could develop this relationship further.

During his official American visit, Garibashvili has met with US Republican Senator John McCain, as well as Congressmen Adam Kinsinger, Steny Hoyer and Cristopher Murphy.

The Georgian Government’s human rights strategy and action plan and the country’s economic development were the main topics discussed at the various meetings, the PM's press office stated.

Congressmen Adam Kinsinger meets PM Irakli Garibashvili in Washington, on February 25, 2014. Photo by PM’s Press Office.

To his American partners, Prime Minister Garibashvili highlighted the prospects of further deepening US-Georgia trade and economic relations, and pointed out the Georgian Government attached "great importance” to negotiating top-level trade and investment deals between the US and Georgia.

Garibashvili believed various steps could soon be implemented to allow execution of a free trade agreement with the US.

Following the meeting with McCain, PM Garibashvili informed his Twitter followers they had enjoyed the wonderful snowy view of DC.