APRIL 12, 2006
Transcript
Press Conference
Senator Bill Frist and Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli
Weds, 04/12/2006
State Chancery of Georgia
Senator Frist: Minister it’s been a great honor to meet with you over the course of the morning and discuss a number of issues of mutual interest. In our meeting I also very much appreciated a call from President Saakashvili to resume discussions we’ve had before on many of the same issues. It was our great honor to receive that telephone call before meeting with you.
Georgia has been a great friend and ally to the United States of American and our Senate Delegation expressed that directly to the Prime Minister. We recognize that a democratic and prosperous Georgia does serve as a beacon for reform in the region. Our relationship is strong, enduring and growing. The ties between our two peoples are the foundation of this partnership.
Georgia and its people have made a major contribution to the security and future of Iraq. We appreciate Georgia’s support there and elsewhere in the world. This support is a hallmark of friendship, our alliance. The United States will continue to assist in Georgia’s military modernization efforts, and we very much support the integration of Georgia into international institutions, such as aspirations to join NATO. Georgia has already been an active participant and contributor to NATO training as well as other programs.
In our conversation we once again expressed our support for the resolution of conflict in South Ossetia through a peaceful resolution. We’ve also had the opportunity to discuss during our stay here the importance of further reform such as a strong judiciary and judicial reform. And we also discussed anticipation of successful, open and democratic local elections, which are up coming.
It is with great respect that Senator Gregg and Senator Burr, on behalf of the United States Senate come to Georgia to express our strong support and our strong appreciation for the partnership of shared values that characterize our relationship.
Q: (Radio Imedi) During your conversation you probably discussed the issue of Russia. As it is well known, Russia banned the export from Georgia of wines. Is it a political decision or solely an economic one?
Senator Frist: We as a delegation visited Russia as well as Poland before coming to Georgia and the issue of wine and the embargo on transfer of wine was discussed. We will leave it to the relationship between the two countries to determine the cause of that embargo. We would hope that whatever the decisions are made are based on truth, on rule of law, on the accuracy of science and not for political leverage. At this juncture we will leave it to the two nations to determine that but we would condemn it if it’s being used for political considerations.
Q: (TV Company Imedi) It is a great pleasure for us to hear from representatives of a superpower that they support Georgia’s aspirations to become a member of NATO and restore its territorial integrity. It was a great pleasure also to hear the fact that you support the peace plan. We are interested if the U.S. will get involved in the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict as this conflict is not one between South Ossetia and Georgia but the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Is it possible for Georgia to join NATO without resolving the issue of its territorial integrity both in South Ossetia and Abkhazia?
Senator Frist: With regard to participation by the U.S. as representatives from our country we very much believe that a peaceful settlement is the only outcome, the only road, and we’ll continue to be very supportive. We did have the discussion this morning about whether or not the U.S. should become more involved and that there be a more international possession of a peaceful settlement in South Ossetia. We will take that back and discuss it among our body. And discussions were begun today and at this point we should not make any commitments. But we’ll take back and discus whether or not that would be helpful. I think it is in the best interest of Georgia and in the best interest of Russia to have peaceful resolution. That ultimately is the goal and our country will be very supportive. As I mentioned, our legislative bodies have made statements to that effect, and we’ll be working with our executive branch to see that that occurs. With the other question on NATO, there are very specific requirements that NATO will consider and much of those are the type of reforms that are well underway here in Georgia: market reforms, judicial reforms and defense reforms as well. Whether or not the actual resolution of the South Ossetia would be to play into that, I don’t think it would, it is not the necessary parameter, I wouldn’t think.
Q: Radio Fortuna: We had information that you were going to discuss security issues. I’d like to ask you whether you’ve discussed security issues, particularly related to regional security. Did you discuss security issues for the larger Middle East area? In light of the recent statement made by Iran’s President, are there any plans to make a new security organization?
Prime Minister Noghaideli: Yes we did discuss the security issues related to energy and economy. We also discussed the regional security issues, although I’m not aware of the Iranian president’s statement from today and I can’t comment on that.
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