US Ambassador, Georgian Interior Minister discuss security cooperation
United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan and Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomalauri met on February 4. Photo: Interior Ministry/Facebook
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United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan discussed security cooperation between the US and Georgia at a meeting with Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri on Tuesday.
We had an excellent meeting, where we had a chance to discuss the security cooperation in many different areas between Georgia and the United States that has been going on for many years”, Degnan said after the meeting.
She noted, however, that in particular the US and Georgian officials spoke of “important work” on border defence.
First official meeting with newly appointed US Ambassador to #Georgia Kelly Degnan. Parties discussed opportunities for deepening cooperation between two countries. Vakhtang Gomelauri expressed gratitude for the support provided by the #US over the yearshttps://t.co/dsTsRJScJQ pic.twitter.com/xfw8QfQAtD
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) February 4, 2020
Ambassador Degnan said that over the past several years the US has committed almost $600 million to helping train, equip and building capacity of Georgia.
Degnan further noted that Georgia "is very focused on being able to defend" its territorial and maritime borders.
The United States remains committed to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to helping Georgia continue to strengthen its ability to defend its own border”, she stated.
On his part, Minister Gomelauri briefed the new US Ambassador of the situation in the Russian occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Kelly Degnan officially assumed her duties as new US ambassador to Georgia on January 31. The post has been vacant since March 2018 after Ian Kelly announced his retirement when his mission in Georgia concluded.