- Foreign relations of Georgia
Georgia's location, nestled between the
Black Sea ,Russia , andTurkey , gives it strategic importance far beyond its size. It is developing as the gateway from the Black Sea to theCaucasus and the larger Caspian region, but also serves as a buffer between Russia and Turkey. Georgia has a long and close relationship with Russia, but it is reaching out to its other neighbors and looking to the West in search of alternatives and opportunities. It signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with theEuropean Union , participates in thePartnership for Peace , and encourages foreign investment.France ,Germany , theUnited Kingdom ,and theUnited States all have embassies inTbilisi .Georgia is a member of the
United Nations , the OSCE, the CIS and theCouncil of Europe .Because of its strategic location it is in both the
Russia n and American spheres of influence. In common with many ex-Soviet republics it is both influenced by and fearful of its larger neighbour. The invitation of US troops into the countrywhen caused tension withMoscow .Fact|date=August 2008 TheRussian government also believes that Georgia is being used by Chechen separatsts. The American government has interests in an oil pipeline passing through the country. Former presidentEduard Shevardnadze attempted to balance these competing demands.Fact|date=August 2008 The new leadership is much closer to the United States.Fact|date=August 2008Disputes - international:Georgia relationships with Russia are at it lowest point in modern history due to Georgian-Russian espionage controversy and related events.
Illicit drugs:illicit cultivator of
cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as atransshipment point for illicit drugs - mostlyopium andhashish - toWestern Europe and theU.S. viaIran ,Central Asia , andRussia .Fact|date=August 2008ee also
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
*Georgian diplomatic missions
*List of diplomatic missions in Georgia
*Georgia-United States relations
*Georgia-Pakistan relations External links
* [http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia]
* [http://www.un.int/georgia The Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations]
* [http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unomig United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia]
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