Georgian Gov’t, United States “are allies, period” - Parliament Committee Chair
The Parliament official responded by saying “no Georgian official” had made a statement in relation to Degnan, pointing out that “for Georgia, America is a strategic partner”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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The Government of Georgia and the United States “are allies, period”, Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, said on Thursday.
Kadagishvili was commenting on a statement by the US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price, who on Wednesday said that “disinformation and personal attacks on Ambassador Degnan or her team are not consistent with how partners communicate with one another”, in remarks related to Georgia.
The Parliament official responded by saying “no Georgian official” had made a statement in relation to Degnan, pointing out that “for Georgia, America is a strategic partner”.
No official has made any statement regarding Kelly Degnan, which is a matter of fact. Of course, America is a strategic partner for Georgia, the path to the European Union is a strategic choice, and on this path, the Georgian Government demands only one thing - to have an open attitude and relationship, direct communication and an open cooperation on all issues”, he concluded in his comments.
The comments by Price followed a recent statement by Tbilisi City Court Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze, who on Friday alleged interference of an Embassy representative in his sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi channel, to imprisonment in May.
Degnan on Friday said any suggestion of the US interfering in the judicial process in Georgia was “simply not true”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said he rejected the idea that "any representative" of the Georgian Government had issued attacks on the United States Ambassador in the country.
Ambassador Degnan and her team at the United States Embassy in Tbilisi are committed to working with the people of Georgia in support of their Euro-Atlantic aspirations, while Degnan has the “full support” of the US Department of State, the Department’s Spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said any suggestion of the US interfering in the judicial process in Georgia was “simply not true”.
Tbilisi City Court Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze on Friday called on political parties, diplomatic corps, international and non-governmental organisations in Georgia to refrain from “putting pressure” on the Georgian court and allow judges to administer justice in a “peaceful environment”.
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.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, on Thursday rejected the idea of the ruling Georgian Dream party producing “any anti-Western rhetoric”, and noted “we have friendly and partnerly relations with the United States of America”.
The United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Thursday said it was “more important than ever” to see Georgia and Ukraine stand together against Russia’s aggression, as both countries “know what it feels like to be occupied by Russia”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday rejected the idea that “any attack” has been issued by “any Georgian official” against the United States Ambassador in the country.
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said he expected the United States Embassy in Tbilisi to be "as transparent as possible" over allegations of its interference by Tbilisi City Court Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze, and make clarifications over the matter "if necessary".
Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, on Monday said Georgian authorities had “no intention” to issue “any kind of organised attack” on the United States or its Ambassador in the country, ruling out the possibility of such a scenario.
Irakli Kadagishvili, the chair of the rules and procedural issues committee of the parliament of Georgia, on Monday said it would be “good” if the funding of domestic non-governmental organisations was made “more open and transparent”.