US Ambassador: “no limit” to what Georgia can achieve “when Georgians stand together”
She also invoked Georgia’s national motto “Strength is in Unity” to stress the significance of unity among citizens of the country, adding the US would “continue to stand united with you”. Photo: US Embassy Tbilisi
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Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said Georgia had made “great progress” building its democracy over the past 30 years and pointed out that there was “no limit” to what the country could achieve with unity over its Euro-Atlantic future.
Speaking at an event dedicated to the United States’ upcoming Independence Day, Degnan drew parallels between citizens in the US and Georgia “cherishing freedom”, adding Georgians sought “peace, security, justice, equality, and dignity” like their American counterparts.
These are fundamental Georgian values, woven throughout Georgia’s history, culture, and tradition, from King Tamar, to Ilia Chavchavadze, to Ekvtime Taqaishvili. The path to the freedom Georgians cherish - and to peace, stability and prosperity - leads to Europe”, the Ambassador said.
Georgia has made great progress building its democracy over 30 years. Over this time, the American people have invested over $6 billion in assistance because we believe in helping Georgia become a more prosperous, more democratic, and more secure country”, she noted.
It is not a criticism to say there is more work to do, most importantly in implementing and re-enforcing the democratic framework Georgia has painstakingly created, and strengthening the independence of the democratic institutions you’ve established”, the diplomat said.
She also invoked Georgia’s national motto “Strength is in Unity” to stress the significance of unity among citizens of the country, adding the US would “continue to stand united with you”.
A “beginning of new opportunities” in cooperation between Georgia and the United States was the focus of an address by Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili, delivered at an event marking the US Independence Day on Thursday.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said Georgia was a “very strong partner” of NATO, as demonstrated by the participation of the Georgian Government’s high-level delegation in the ongoing Madrid Summit of the alliance.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed the strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States with a delegation of US Senate congressmembers led by Jeanne Shaheen, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Thom Tillis.
Political leaders in the United States, including President Biden, have made it clear that Georgia is an important partner for the country, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan told Georgian press on Thursday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the approval of the United States National Defence Authorization Act by the House of Representatives, which includes provisions in support of Georgia, was “another clear example” of the strategic partnership between the countries and demonstrated “strong bipartisan support” for Georgia in the US.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday paid tribute to Ilia Chavchavadze - Georgian publicist, author and a major figure of the country's 19th century national movement - on the 115th anniversary of his assasination, by saying that the country would “never forget the bright memory” of the “father of the nation”.