Georgia’s fifth President Zourabichvili to attend Trump’s inauguration, plans high-level meetings

Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zourabichvili, on Thursday announced that she would attend the inauguration of the US President-elect Donald Trump and engage in high-level meetings in Washington, D.C. The invitation was extended by Congressman Joe Wilson, the Chairman of the Helsinki Commission.

At her first press conference following her departure from the Orbeliani Palace, Zourabichvili emphasized her role in improving Georgia’s international relations, particularly with Western partners. “We have the means to come out of isolation. I have a role, and I am fulfilling this role perfectly. I have practically daily contacts with our foreign partners,” she said.

Zourabichvili confirmed her participation in Trump’s inauguration, clarifying that the event’s funding would not be her responsibility.

“There are various options for inviting to the inauguration, in which no one pays. So be it; others, many have much more resources than me to pay these funds. Let’s leave this joke aside, the main thing is that I am going and will have high-level meetings,” she added.

She also responded to recent statements by the ruling Georgian Dream party directed at French President Emmanuel Macron and other Western leaders, calling their comments “rude and disrespectful.”

Zourabichvili highlighted that the true support for Georgia “comes from its main international partners, who stand against any moves to steer the country in an anti-democratic, anti-Western direction”.

“What is really important is that the Georgian population has the support of the main partners, who are ready to sanction those who decided to take Georgia in a different direction,” Zourabichvili said. She emphasized that once new elections are held, Georgia would “return to the desired democratic system and receive crucial assistance from its partners to support its struggling economy”.