A conversation with
Irakli Garibashvili
Prime Minister
Georgia
@PrimeMinisterGE

Introduction by

Chris Murphy
Senator (D-CT)
@ChrisMurphyCT

Moderated by

Damon Wilson
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Council
@DamonMacWilson

Against the backdrop of turmoil in Europe's East, Georgia is moving decisively to buttress its ties with NATO and the European Union. A standout reformer among the Eastern Partnership countries, Georgia took a historic step forward by initialing an Association Agreement with the European Union at the contentious Vilnius Summit last November. The Georgian Dream coalition, brought to power peacefully through Georgia's first democratic transfer of power, has continued the young and promising democracy's path to Europe even as it attempted to normalize relations with Russia. As Moscow steps up its efforts to deny its neighbors the prospect of integrating with Europe, Georgia remains focused on advancing its aspirations at the September NATO Summit and finalizing its EU Association Agreement this year.  

In his first official visit to Washington as prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili will visit the Atlantic Council to discuss the new government’s priorities, how recent developments in the Caucasus, Ukraine, and elsewhere in the region look from Tbilisi, Georgia’s Western ambitions, and relations with the United States as well as Russia.