May 16 is declared a National Day of Mourning, commemorating the lives of Georgian soldiers who died in Afghanistan. "These soldiers are heroes, who have sacrificed their lives for the motherland, despite the fact that it has happened far from their motherland, in Afghanistan. Their contribution to the global security is significant and Georgia always has to remember its heroes" - Minister Panjikidze said during lowering flag.  

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In his letter to the Georgian Foreign Minister, Ms Maia Panjikidze, the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry expresses his sorrow over the death of Georgian servicemen in Afghanistan.

Dear Madam Minister:

It was with profound sadness I learned of the deaths of three Georgian soldiers, with numerous more wounded, in Afghanistan's Helmand Province on May 13. These brave troops set out to make Afghanistan, and the world, a safer place, and they made the ultimate sacrifice. I am grateful for their service, and I ask that you convey my deepest condolences to the families of those affected during this time of sorrow.

In these difficult days, we are reminded of the losses our countries and citizens have endured together as we pursue our shared goals of a stable, secure, and prosperous Afghanistan. Events such as this underline the continued importance of the work we do in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world to promote a more secure future for all. The United States is mindful of the great commitment the Georgian people have made to this goal, with Georgia the largest non-NATO and per capita troop contributor to the international mission in Afghanistan.

Please accept my utmost appreciation for Georgia's ongoing commitment to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. I sincerely wish all those injured in this attack full and speedy recoveries.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

During May 6-8, 2013, Millennium Challenge Georgia and members of the Government of Georgia's team visited Millennium Challenge Corporation in Washington D.C. for the 3 day negotiation process for the Second Compact covering Education Sector of Georgia.

On the 24th of April 2013, the Georgian Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting between the Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Davit Zalkaliani, and members of a joint delegation of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Robert Bosch Foundation.

The delegation included high-ranking European and American officials, experts, analysts and journalists, and was headed by the President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (and co-organizer of the visit), Mr Craig Kennedy; this was the ninth visit of the German Marshall Fund of the United States to Georgia.

On the 24th of April 2013 the Georgian Foreign Minister, Ms Maia Panjikidze, held a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, during the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting they were attending.

The two discussed a wide range of issues concerning U.S.-Georgia bilateral and multilateral relations, including the process of Georgia's integration with European and Euro-Atlantic structures; future plans for co-operation within the framework of the U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Charter; prospects for the strengthening of trade-economic relations between their two countries; Georgian-Russian relations; and ongoing political developments in Georgia.

The U.S. Secretary of State expressed his gratitude for Georgia's contribution to the strengthening of global security, and in doing so underlined the importance of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan (ISAF).

At the end of the meeting Ms Panjikidze invited the U.S. Secretary of State to pay an official visit to Georgia.

25 April 2013

Press and Information Department

On April 22, 2013, Giorgi Kekelidze, General Director of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia arrived in Washington, DC, for official visit.

The same day, the Library of Congress and its Asian and Middle East Division, organized a Poetry Reading by Giorgi Kekelidze, who read his poetry in Georgian and English. Americans as well as Georgians living in the USA attend the event. 

On 23 April, the General Director of the National Library will meet with the Librarian of the Library of Congress, Dr. James Billington. Issues of the collaboration between two libraries as well as exchange of the digital resources and their development will be discussed during the meeting.

On April 20, 2013 H.E. Archil Gegeshidze, Ambassador of Georgia to the United States and other members of the Government of Georgia’s delegation visited Georgian soldiers, wounded in Afghanistan, at Walter Reed National Military Madical Center.  

During a visit to the United States, Georgian First Deputy Minister of Defense Levan Dolidze and Colonel Vladimer Chachibaia held two bilateral meetings in the Pentagon with Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense Evelyn Farkas and David Sedney.

Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Georgia to the United States express their deepest sorrow on the tragedy of Boston, USA, of April 15, 2013, that took lives of three and injured more than 140 individuals. 

The MFA of Georgia and the Embassy of Georgia to the United States express their condolences to the families of the victims.

On April 15, 2013, H.E. Archil Gegeshidze, Georgia’s new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary presented his credentials to the U.S. President Barack Obama.

“Mr. Ambassador, it is very important for us to deepen the relationship with Georgia and I look forward to cooperate with you in this matter” – President Obama said at the ceremony of presenting credentials.  

“Mr. President, it is my honor to represent Georgia in the United States of America. Georgia has always been grateful to American people, who always were generous towards Georgia. The fact that Georgia exists as a democratic and free state, is primarily due to the support of American people and the guidance of your government and we are thankful for that” – Ambassador Gegeshidze said while presenting credentials to the president.

H.E. Archil Gegeshidze is Georgia’s seventh Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States.