Georgia, Tbilisi, Aug.11 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili awarded the U.S. Department of State Representative, Matthew Bryza, the Golden Fleece Award. Bryza have great services in strengthening the friendship between the United States and Georgia, Saakashvili said in the awarding ceremony.
Saakashvili thanked Bryza for assistance rendered in 2004 while solving problems in Adjaria. "Now the U.S. and Georgia are equal partners, though some people laugh, how such a great country and Georgia can be partners. However, we are partners and our friendship is based on common democratic values. These are not relations between a dependent and a great nation, but partner relations built on mutual respect," Saakashvili said. Bryza, actively promoting convergence of two countries, played a particular role in establishment of these relations, the president added.
In turn, Bryza thanked Saakashvili for the award saying that his contribution is modest, but he is grateful for its assessment.
Bryza was the Deputy Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State and has often traveled to Georgia over the past five years. Bryza has taken active steps to bring together the two countries. Bryza's frequent visits were a constant topic of jokes at Georgian comic television programs.