US pledges continuing support for Georgia

23 July, 2009, 18:32

US Vice President Joe Biden’s politically-delicate mission continues in Georgia. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has repeated his request for weapons, but the White House has refused to comment on his remarks.

In his speech, Biden said that US partnership with Georgia involves meeting security challenges together. He’s urged more press freedom and justice in the country, while promising US help to upgrade Georgia’s army to meet NATO standards. Biden has reiterated that his country supports Georgia’s bid to join the alliance.

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Will Georgia get the weapons it’s asking for?

President Mikhail Saakashvili is asking the US for more weapons, which he claims are needed to defend against a possible Russian invasion. The White House has refused to comment on the request. However, an anonymous US official said that Vice President Joe Biden didn’t promise any military supplies.

Meanwhile, Adrian Pabst, Leverhulme research fellow in European affairs from Nottingham University, says militarization is the last thing Georgia needs.

“If the US is determined not to help the Georgian army to rearm in order to intervene in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, it’s good news,” he noted.

The Georgian leader is placing his hopes for more aid with the American second in command:

“It is important for the world to understand that, as we will never surrender, we will continue, with the help of our friends, to resist peacefully, to the invaders who aim at destroying our territorial integrity.”

US will never recognize Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s sovereignty – Biden

The US Vice President has assured the Georgian leader that his country “supports Georgia’s territorial integrity in the framework of internationally recognized borders”, thus not recognizing the two republics now and never planning to do so.

He has also called on the whole international community not to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent republics either.

Following Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia in August 2008, Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states the same month.

Later, the independence of both republics was also recognized by Nicaragua.

“We’ll stand by you”

Speaking to the political elite of the country, Joe Biden said: “One year ago when I came to Georgia it was under very different and difficult circumstances. I was proud to stand with you then and the reason I am back – and the reason President Obama asked me to come back – was to send an unequivocal, clear, simple message to all who will listen, and those who don’t even want to listen, that America stands with you at this moment and will continue to stand with you.”

Biden also described Georgia as a vital strategic partner for the US. He promised to help ensure Georgia’s energy security. Biden said Washington welcomed the country’s vital role in this process, and added that the state is a bridge for the transportation of natural resources from the Caspian region to the West.

Saakashvili’s “democracy”

US Vice President Joe Biden has also been meeting with members of Georgia’s opposition to discuss the burning issues of Georgia’s internal politics.

During the fist day of Biden’s visit, several thousand opposition supporters staged a rally in the city centre. They were trying to draw attention to what they call the anti-democratic and authoritarian policies of the Georgian leader.

US Vice President said Saakashvili must further encourage democracy in the country.

Police remove the "cell block" props of the opposition in Tbilisi in anticipation of Joe Biden (AFP Photo / Vano Shlamov)

Prior to the meeting columnist from The Guardian Jonathan Steele told RT: “It is very important that Joe Biden is going to talk to the opposition politicians in Georgia. I think the message will be: if you want to be recognized by the West as a respectable country – you have got to do something about your internal democracy and particularly the freedom of the press.”

He reminded that the Georgian state enjoys a complete monopoly over television and that opposition newspapers have been closed down, while journalists have been pressured to conform to the Saakashvili line.

Georgian political analyst and former member of parliament Tsotne Bakuria was even more critical.

“The truth is that Georgia does not have a future, if this current situation is going to be the same for another four years. The country has been devastated. There is no economy working in the country. The unemployment rate is almost 64%. Imagine the number, it’s terrible!” shared Bakuria.

He expressed hope that Joe Biden will talk current president Mikhail Saakashvili to resign peacefully.

“This would be the best solution for everybody: for Georgians, for Americans, for Russians and for the region as a whole,” concluded Tsotne Bakuria.