Perfect Opportunity to Reaffirm U.S. Government Support for Anaklia Port Project

TBILISI, GEORGIA, 13 November 2020 – The Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) today issued the following statement in advance of the 17-18 November visit to Georgia by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo:

“The Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) and its investors welcome the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Georgia, and expect Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Degnan will express to the Georgian Government their continued support for a port project at Anaklia.”

“It was just last year (11 June 2019) that Secretary Pompeo offered a strong endorsement of support for the Anaklia Project following his meeting with then-Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, when he told the press:

“I communicated our hope that Georgia completes the (Anaklia) port project. The project and others will enhance Georgia’s relationship with free economies and prevent Georgia from falling prey to Russian or Chinese economic influence. Those pretend friends do not have Georgia’s best interests at heart.”

“The timing and purpose of Secretary Pompeo’s visit invites an examination of the Georgian Government’s purported commitment to seeing through the development of a world-class port at Anaklia. While this commitment was expressed directly to both Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Degnan, recent developments show that the Georgian Government’s commitment to Anaklia was a hollow one.

“The Georgian Government’s duplicitous and unlawful actions in relation to the Anaklia project has caused considerable financial losses for its U.S., European and Georgian investors and unfortunately now led to international arbitration proceedings being commenced against Georgia, which create a considerable financial risk for the state and will serve to discourage foreign investment in Georgia at a time when Georgia most needs it.

“Beyond the Anaklia project, the actions of the current Government over the past year certainly raise questions about its commitment to implementing meaningful judicial and governance reforms, which are important for increasing foreign investment and strengthening the Georgian economy. 

“We wish Secretary Pompeo all success during his visit to Georgia and his meetings with the Government.”

Further details of the Anaklia Port project and ADC can be found at http://anakliadevelopment.com

During today's meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia commented on the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to Georgia, scheduled for November 17-18.

The Head of Government emphasized that it is yet another demonstration of the importance and all-time high level of Georgia-US strategic partnership.

"Our meeting will firstly discuss issues pertaining to the US-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, and we will, of course, speak about the current developments in the South Caucasus, Georgia's further democratization, and economic and security issues. These topics have been suggested by our partners, and we are preparing to discuss them. We all must understand that it is not just a visit by the Secretary of State of our partner country; it is also a visit by Georgia's friend, and we will do everything to make sure that this visit further deepens the remarkable strategic partnership between the US and Georgia, especially in the direction of the critically important ongoing developments in the South Caucasus which will have a serious impact on our country's everyday life, security, and future.

Consequently, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the challenges we are facing today, we must be fully focused on making ready for this visit," the Prime Minister said.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Georgia welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s forthcoming visit to Georgia scheduled for 17 and 18 November, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reports. 

Within the framework of the visit, the Secretary of State will hold meetings with Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, President Salome Zourabichvili and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani. Mike Pompeo will also meet with Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.

High-level meetings within the scope of the Secretary of State’s visit will focus on the priorities under the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, as well as on prospects for further enhancing cooperation in the areas of defence an security, trade and economy, democracy, people-to-people contacts, education and cultural exchanges.

The parties will discuss the security environment in Georgia and the wider region and will highlight cooperation between the countries as a way to further strengthen regional and international security. Talking points will also include the democratic and economic reforms taking place in Georgia.

The U.S. Secretary of State’s visit to Georgia once again points to the firmness of U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership and reaffirms the commitment of the two countries to enhance their cooperation aimed at further reinforcing the partnership based on shared values and vision. The visit provides yet another proof that the United States remains strongly committed to supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the country’s continuous democratic development and European and Euro-Atlantic integration.