A senior U.S. diplomat will arrive in Georgia late Thursday to speak with local officials in preparation for newly elected Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's visit to the U.S. later this month.
Philip Gordon, U.S. deputy secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, will meet with the speaker of the Georgian parliament, David Usupashvili, parliamentary minority leader David Bakradze and Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, Interfax reported, citing the U.S. Embassy in Georgia.
According to a statement on the U.S. State Department's official website, Gordon will later travel to Berlin, Germany, on Nov. 18 and then head to Austria and Belgium.
Ivanishvili's U.S. visit is scheduled for late November, days before a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels. During his first official visit to the Belgian capital this week, Ivanishvili reaffirmed Tbilisi's commitment to joining NATO.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
