Batumi City Council Acting Chairman Lasha SirabiZe together with the Prime-Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Ajarian Govrnment Chairman Zurab Pataradze, and Mayor of Batumi Giorgi Ermakov, attended the party arranged on board the U.S. commanding Ship MOUNT WHITNEY LLC 20 being at Batumi harbor.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili appreciated the importance of the U.S. vessel entering, and said that it is one more confirmation of the United States steady support to Georgia.
According to the head of the government, this visit aims to increase the naval capabilities of the United States partners in the region, and thus ensuring stability and security.
 “It is very important for our country that the U.S. vessel MONT WHITNEY entered the port of Batumi. Along with the development of security and stability in the Black Sea region, the entering of the American vessel is one more confirmation of unshakable support from our strategic partner - The United States of America. This visit is the result of our bilateral cooperation with the U.S. navy, and aims to increase the naval capabilities of the United States partners in the region, and thus ensuring stability and security. The Black Sea security is an important part of the Euro-Atlantic security. This kind of activities fully reflects the NATO’s concern to Georgia’s involvement in the dialogue about security in the Black Sea region, and we are ready to deepen relations in this respect,”- he said.
As the Prime Minister mentioned the strategic partnership with the USA is the most effective mechanism for Georgia’s security and defense capabilities and NATO integration. He also thanked the USA with the name of the Georgian people for continuous and vital support for 25 years.
As the Ambassador of the US Jan Kelly explained it is USS Mount Whitney’s fourth visit to Georgia. The aim of the visit is to strengthen maritime security and to increase naval capacity. According to him the visit to Batumi Port is the clear message for deepening Georgia-US partnership.
The US 6-th fleet command ship Mount Whitney entered the Port of Batumi on October 12.