United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker said in Tbilisi that Georgia remains the US’s top strategic partner in the South Caucasus and a crucial partner in the Black Sea region.

“Georgia remains the key strategic partner for the Biden-Harris administration in South Caucasus, and the crucial partner in the Black Sea region.

The main purpose of my visit is to ensure Georgia’s success as a developed, secure and democratic country, for which the April 19 agreement is very important.

I will continue the meetings in Georgia and then travel to Baku and Yerevan, after which I will return to Georgia for a certain time”, - said Philip Reeker.

He also said that Georgia’s democratic institutions have achieved great progress since Georgia declared its independence, however, still much remains to be accomplished.

“Democracy implies continuous painstaking efforts and aspirations for development. Reformation of the judicial system is paramount, and Georgian people deserve this. All issues, including transparency, the election of judges, their promotion, disciplinary issues, and others need to be considered. The April 19 agreement was a step forward attesting to the fact that working on reforms should keep going, with the process being immensely inclusive, involving versatile views of the Georgian public”, - added US Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Philip Reeker discussed Georgia’s Western integration with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, and opposition leaders from Parliament. The Acting Assistant Secretary emphasized that the Biden-Harris Administration will continue calling out Russia’s aggressive and destabilizing actions and its failure to fulfill its 2008 ceasefire obligations and commitments.