GEORGIA, U.S. SIGN CHARTER ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.01.2009 16:36 GMT+04:00
The United States and Georgia signed a bilateral charter on strategic
partnership aimed at increasing cooperation in defense, trade, energy
and other areas. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the deal
should advance Georgia’s bid for membership in NATO and other
western structures.
State Department officials stress that the charter is a not a mutual
defense treaty, but they say it is a highly-visible sign of American
support for the Caucuses state in the aftermath of its conflict with
Russia last August.
The agreement provides a road map for cooperation between the two
countries across the spectrum of bilateral relations, including
U.S. assistance to Georgia’s military to help that country qualify
for NATO membership.
The charter says that a strong, independent, sovereign and democratic
Georgia, capable of responsible self-defense, contributes to the
security and prosperity not only of all Georgians, but of a Europe
whole, free and at peace.
An increasingly democratic Georgia can unleash the full creative
potential of its industrious citizens, and thereby catalyze prosperity
throughout the region and beyond, it says.
The United States encourages efforts by Georgia to deepen its
political, economic, security, and social ties with other nations of
the Euroatlantic community. The partners declare that their shared goal
is the full integration of Georgia into European and transatlantic
political, economic, security, and defense institutions as Georgia
meets the necessary standards, the charter says.
At the signing ceremony with Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze,
Secretary of State Rice reaffirmed U.S. support for the country’s
territorial integrity.
"The United States supports, and will always support Georgia’s
sovereignty and its territorial integrity, as well as its Euro-Atlantic
aspirations and its integration into the institutions of the
Euro-Atlantic," she said. "The pace of Georgia’s integration with
NATO should depend on the desires of Georgians themselves, and on
Georgia’s ability to meet NATO standards," Rice said, VOA reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
