August 23 , 2006
Transcript
Senator Lugar’s Press Conference at the National Center for Disease Control, Tbilisi
Senator Lugar [opening remarks]: I’m honored to be here with the distinguished Minister of Health and thank you for that introduction. Ladies and gentlemen I’m very pleased to be her again at the National Center for Disease Control. The Governments of Georgia and the United States of America through our efforts at the National Center for Disease Control and for that matter throughout the biological threat reduction program have established the model for countering threats of infectious diseases and bioterrorism. Disease has no respect for borders or citizenship we must inspire others through the success of our cooperation to join our efforts in combating the spread of disease. The government of Georgia has proposed establishing a joint center for disease control with the United States Government.
During my last visit, and I’ve viewed pictures of that here in the center today, we broke ground for this new $65 million state-of-the-art center that is now being built not far from here. The Government of Georgia has proposed establishing a joint center for disease control with the United States Government and I am here to say that we strongly
support this proposal to have doctors and scientists from our countries, and from other countries as well, working here side-by-side. I thank the Georgian Government for proposing that we work here in Tbilisi and we have a commitment together to ensure a safer, healthier global community. I will be pleased to respond to questions that you might have.
Q: Public TV Channel One: What are the prospects for cooperation between Georgia the U.S.? What can be the directions in which the United States and Georgia will be cooperating?
A: Senator Lugar: Specifically we saw upstairs cooperation between Georgia and the United States on the Avian Flu epidemic. We saw the very room, the very instrument, on which the Avian Flu was detected and that was tremendously important for the safety of citizens of Georgia, but likewise for citizens all over the world. And my point is: this is the center to help people all over the world to combat disease and horrible plagues.
Q: Rustavi-2: Georgia has made a resolution about the withdrawal of Russian military forces from Abkhazia. Can you comment on that?
A: Senator Lugar: The United States believes that refugees from Abkhazia who are in Georgia should have the privilege of returning to Abkhazia. We are eager to work with Georgia and with other nations to try to affect the return of these citizens to their homes. That intense diplomacy we hope will continue on behalf of these people.
Q: Public TV Channel One: What are your plans during your stay in Georgia?
A: Senator Lugar: We visited earlier this morning a facility outside of Tbilisi in which armament from the past is being disarmed; in essence material is being taken from shells and from rockets and carved up so that it cannot be utilized as a weapon. For some reason, when Georgia gained this independence it unfortunately inherited huge amounts of this armament material sitting around; and the Georgians have been collecting it and working with the United States and, I might add, with the OSCE to try to bring about safety for Georgians. This afternoon we are going to have a helicopter trip to take a look at portions of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and to understand better the location and importance of this to Georgia. Yesterday I was privileged to travel with President Saakashvili to a training ground where Georgian soldiers are being trained in steep mountain climbing and all sorts of dangerous exercises with the assistance of both soldiers from France and the United States. The President also escorted us to the Museum in downtown Tbilisi where there are remarkable pictures of the history of Georgia, as well as beautiful jewelry and artifacts going back through the centuries of Georgian history. This may give a flavor of our visit which has been very vigorous.
Q: Alania TV : You are not for the first time in Georgia. Is there any difference, and if so what kind of deference have you noticed?
A: Senator Lugar: The differences are dramatic; first of all, in the wealth of the country, income of citizens, the new educational resources and health resources. And very clearly, the fact that the buildings are even more beautiful; old ones have been painted, others are under constructions. It’s a very, very exciting contrast from my first visit about ten years ago or even two years ago. The most dramatic change, is human quality, and that is the routing out of corruption. It may not entirely be gone but the fact is that Georgians have much more confidence in their institutions; and that is tremendously important. I have rarely seen such an example of such an effective attack on public corruption.
Q: The Georgian Messenger: I’m asking yet about the peacekeeper withdrawal. Do you support Georgia’s efforts to find replacement for Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zones?
A: Senator Lugar: Yes, I support the effort of Georgia to find an international peacekeeping force that might replace the Russians.
Thank you very much for coming.
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