2003 Embassy Events
December 5, Rumsfeld Expresses U.S. Support for Georgia's Territorial Integrity
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met with Georgian Interim President Nino Burjanadze and her team in Tbilisi on Friday, December 5, 2003.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld underscored strong U.S. support for Georgia's security and territorial integrity in a joint press conference in Tbilisi on December 5 with Acting Georgian President Nino Burdzhanadze.
"The United States agrees that Russia should fulfill its commitments under the Istanbul Accords to withdraw Russian forces from Georgia," Rumsfeld said.
Rumsfeld characterized Georgia as a staunch friend of the West, and he welcomed Burdzhanadze's commitment to hold free and fair elections in January 2004. "A credible election process is certainly critical to stability in Georgia and to Georgia's continued integration with the West," Rumsfeld said.
In other comments, Rumsfeld expressed U.S. appreciation for Georgia assistance in the war against terrorism, including the deployment of Georgian Special Forces who are serving with coalition troops in Iraq.
U.S. assistance to the Georgian military, called the Train-and-Equip program, has been a success in implementing needed defense reforms, Rumsfeld said, adding that the U.S. looks forward to strengthening U.S.-Georgian relations in the years ahead. (read more)