Georgia and the United States will sign a charter on strategic partnership on January 9, according to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Grigol Vashadze, the Georgian foreign minister, plans to leave for Washington on January 8, the Georgian MFA said on Monday.

MFA said last week that signing ceremony in Washington, which was initially planned for January 4, was postponed, because of changes in working schedule of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice because of developments in the Middle East.

The Department of State said in a press statement on December 23 that the charter will be similar to the one signed by the U.S. and Ukraine on December 19 - Charter on Strategic Partnership.