Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Phil Reeker arrived in Tbilisi last night, beginning a one-week visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, US Embassy in Georgia reports.
The purpose of his visit is to advance bilateral and regional priorities and to express US support for the region’s democratic and economic development.
This morning, Reeker met with advocates for media freedom in Georgia. He told the group that the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to putting human rights at the heart of U.S. foreign policy. That includes freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
People everywhere should be free to express their beliefs, hold opinions without interference, and seek, receive, and share information and ideas. The Acting Assistant Secretary listened to the concerns of advocates and their ideas for promoting greater media freedom and higher levels of professionalism in journalism.
“Acting Assistant Secretary of State Reeker in Georgia will hold meetings with leaders of the government, opposition and civil society to discuss the implementation of the agreement signed by political parties on April 19, as well as issues of the current aggression and occupation of Georgia by Russia,” the information says.
According to the State Department, in Armenia and Azerbaijan, Reeker will meet with representatives of governments, civil society and business and discuss bilateral priorities and issues related to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
