Visa-free regime, free trade zones, direct flights "Georgian Dream" voices expectations from US

Tbilisi demands concrete steps from Washington under strategic partnership with the United States.

In particular, Georgian authorities expect the United States to be more active in issuing visas to Georgian citizens, launch direct flights and introduce a free trade regime with the Caucasus country. Such statements have been made in recent days by leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

Chairman of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili particularly noted that Georgia "expects the US to reciprocate friendship" in the form of "direct flights and a free trade zone". "We have been showing Americans for decades what friendship and partnership means in Georgian way," Papuashvili said. Georgia has a visa-free regime for US citizens and a preferential most-favored-nation treatment for American businesses. Shalva Papuashvili also pointed out participation of Georgian citizens in the Afghan war "side by side with American servicemen".

Papuashvili reminded that "Georgia has sent the largest contingent of non-NATO members to Afghanistan and has lost as many military personnel as some NATO countries did not even send there". "This is friendship in Georgian way, and in return we expect visa-free regime, free trade zone and direct flights from the US," the Parliament speaker noted.

He underlined that China, which Georgia is now building relations of strategic partnership with, "almost immediately introduced visa-free regime for Georgian citizens and has already scheduled direct flights".