Diplomats urge Georgia to ratify cybersecurity strategy at 1st Cyber Security Forum in Tbilisi
The first cyber security forum was organised by Georgia’s National Security Council, with the support of the government of Georgia. Photo: government of Georgia press office.
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The first Cyber Security Forum in Tbilisi has been held by the government of Georgia to identify problems in Georgian cybersecurity and find ways to settle them with the involvement of the diplomatic corps and international institutions.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has urged the government to urgently ratify the national cybersecurity strategy and an action plan.
She said that roles and duties should be clearly defined in the field for the existing problems to be resolved.
Degnan said that proper cybersecurity protection during the election period is of ‘the utmost importance’.
The United States will continue to work together with international donor community to support our Georgian partners in achieving their cybersecurity goals.https://t.co/MiK0BRX8aq
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) September 25, 2020
- US Ambassador Degnan: Russia is likely to interfere in Georgian elections
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The EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell said Georgia has achieved progress in cybersecurity and ‘the country’s positions in international rankings prove this.’
He said that Georgia should continue its efforts to ensure better cybersecurity and make changes to the law.
However, Hartzell said that ensuring cybersecurity should not take place at the expense of the violation of human rights or personal data.
I believe that none of the states are able to cope with cybersecurity challenges alone. That is why the EU is trying to create a multi party framework where we will work with all our partners, including Georgia,” Hartzell said.
Hartzell praised the Georgian government for organising the ‘very important forum.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that ahead of ‘very important elections’ the issues, risks and challenges related to cybersecurity may turn into a serious challenge for the country.
Gakharia stated that the forum should play its ‘big role’ in strengthening Georgia's national security.
He said that over the past 12 years Georgia has faced several cyber attacks, including the ones by Russia back in 2008, 2019 and earlier this year.
- Georgia accuses Russia of widespread cyber attack
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Gakharia said that it is important for Georgia to have a special body that will coordinate sectoral agencies in the security field.
He thanked allies for ‘very valuable support’ for national cybersecurity.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has thanked High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of European Commission Josep Borrell for condemning Russia’s widespread cyber attack against Georgia back in October 2019.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has stated that on October 28, 2019, the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) Main Center for Special Technologies carried out a ‘widespread, disruptive cyber attack’ against web pages and servers of Georgian governmental agencies, court and media organisations.“The attack caused serious damage to the web pages and servers. The cyberattack aimed to undermine Georgia’s national security, harming the Georgian population, disrupting the functioning of government agencies, as well as various organizations, and stirring commotion in public."
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that she has no concrete proof, however taking Russia’s previous activities into account ‘it is quite likely’ the country will try to interfere in upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia in the autumn.
Georgia has been ranked ninth in Europe in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2018, which is a composite index produced, analysed and published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to measure the commitment of its 194 member states to cybersecurity in order to raise cybersecurity awareness.
The importance of Georgia’s cybersecurity cooperation with international partners and further development in the sector were noted by Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze in his address at the opening of the Intermarium Cyber Security Forum in Tbilisi on Monday.