Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili said at the joint briefing held after meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton that Georgia was independent and democratic country thanks to the help of American people.
`Term occupation was mentioned by US authorities, including Secretary of State several times. I would like to thank US people for support, which is growing eventually. Georgia is a model of political and economic reforms and an optimistic country. Despite threats and challenges, we will not change the course and we know that we will always have US support,` President announced and added that the visit of the Secretary of State was great honour form him.
President said the US-Georgia relations were exemplary.
`For many years we have been having close partnership relations with the United States and the support of the US administration was always very significant for us. After August war 2008, US administration demonstrated support to Georgia`s integrity and sovereignty. President Obama expressed this support. The visit of the vice president was also demonstration of support. I want to thank American people for this support on behalf of the nation. It was the support and help, which Georgia needed very much then,` president said.
President congratulated the American people on the Independence Day and said that the USA and Georgia have common values, fully shared by the Georgian people.
`First of all, I want to congratulate the US Secretary of State on the Day of US Independence. 234 year ago the USA started quite a serious and bold experiment based on fundamental values. There are the values we are sharing with you. Mrs Secretary of State, you could see shelves of works by Thomas Jefferson and books by authors of the US constitution in my study. I read them frequently,` Saakashvili said.
In her answers to journalists, Mrs. Clinton reiterated support to Georgia`s political course saying the US did not recognize the spheres of influence. She said the independent countries had right to makedecisions independently regarding joining various organizations and alliances.
`The United States is steadfast in its commitment to Georgia`s sovereignty and territorial integrity,` Clinton said at a joint press conference with President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Clinton also urged Moscow to abide by a ceasefire agreement that stipulates its forces must return to positions held before the 2008 Georgia-Russia war over the rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
`We continue to call for Russia to abide by the August 2008 ceasefire commitment... including by ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions,` she said.
