Georgia welcomed the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, calling it “a major victory of the American people, and the U.S. leadership.”

“This once again proves the strength and resilience of the United States as a nation in global affairs and particularly in the fight against terror,” President Saakashvili said in a written statement. “[The killing of Bin Laden] is an important step forward in the fight against terrorism worldwide."

"However, despite this big victory, the fight continues and we believe that there is no alternative but for the justice to reign.”

He said that Georgian remained strongly committed to supporting the U.S. in fight against terrorism.

Earlier on Monday, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, Nino Kalandadze said that the death of Bin Laden was “a huge success.”
 
“Georgia has been part of anti-terrorism coalition from the very first day of its creation as we deem terrorism as one of the most serious global challenges,” she told journalists, referring to an international coalition the U.S. started creating after the 9/11.

“We hope, that it [the death of Bin Laden] will be the beginning of the success, which will eventually be accomplished by the anti-terrorism movement,” she said.

She also said that “the entire Georgian political spectrum” was unanimous in the need to fight terrorism.

The opposition Our Georgia-Free Democrats party, led by Irakli Alasania, released a statement congratulating the United States with “a successful operation in Pakistan.” “The world is much safer without Bin Laden,” it said.