Georgia has reached significant progress in developing democracy over the last twenty years and the country could see a new golden age of prosperity, democracy and progress soon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday.
Clinton arrived in Tbilisi on Monday during her trip to Eastern Europe which started on July 1.
"The United States supports the Georgian people, we support Georgian democracy and we are going to do everything we can to further those values," she said.
A golden era could start for Georgia soon, Clinton said at a meeting with Georgian women and urged them to participate in forging this time of "democracy, prosperity and progress."
She emphasized that strengthening ties with Europe and NATO is vital for Georgia.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Georgia's independence is a U.S. achievement.
"We have very close partner relations. We feel [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama and Secretary of State Clinton's constant wonderful support. U.S. support was very important for Georgia's independence. They assisted us with the development of democratic processes," he said at a joint briefing with Clinton.
"This is especially correct taking into account the critical situation, which broke out during the August attack of 2008 when president Obama supported Georgia's sovereignty," Saakashvili said.
"Georgia is an optimistic-minded country and in spite of occupation and constant dangers we see economic growth...We are continuing integration into Western European space and we will never wander off the path of democratic and social transformation," the Georgian president said.
TBILISI, July 5 (RIA Novosti)
