Georgian Parliament Speaker Concludes U.S. Visit

Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze visited United States for the first time in his new capacity on July 15-20.

Summing up his visit, the Parliament Speaker spoke of “all of the strategic issues” with Georgia’s friends and allies in Congress, including future cooperation between the Georgian and US legislators.

Georgia has a very strong support in Congress as well as in the State Department. Our progress in democratic consolidation, strengthening security and economy, is adequately evaluated,” Talakvadze said.

He then noted that “we need to move our cooperation to even higher level.”

As part of his visit, Speaker Talakvadze addressed the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), a bipartisan commission that works directly with partner countries around the world to support the development of effective legislatures.

In his remarks, the Parliament Speaker mainly focused on:

  • The country’s constitutional reform,
  • Proportional election system for 2020 parliamentary polls,
  • Its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,
  • Russia’s occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia.

“We believe that Russian occupation is temporary and our response implies more democracy and more consolidation of success. We strive to end this unequal fight with Russia by means of the peaceful but intact resistance resulting in victory,” he stated.

Parliament Speaker in US Congress

In Washington, Speaker Talakvadze held meetings with Congressmen and Senators.

He met with co-chair of the House Democracy Partnership David Price (Dem), co-chairs of the Congressional Georgia Caucus Gerald Connolly (Dem.) and Adam Kinzinger (Rep.), as well as Senators Martin Heinrich (Dem.), Todd Young (Rep.), Ron Johnson (Rep.) and Roger Wicker (Rep.).

Talakvadze also had a brief encounter with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Dem.), Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and Congressman Vern Buchanan (Rep.).

He also spoke of US-Georgia cooperation at US Department of State, USAID, Atlantic Council, National Democratic Institute and World Bank.

In US, Talakvadze was accompanied by the First Vice Speaker, Tamar Chugoshvili and the Vice Speaker Sergi Kapanadze of opposition European Georgia.

Read also: 

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)