US Ambassador says Georgia “close” to EU candidacy, urges “unity”
Pointing to the importance of peace for Ukraine amid its defence from the ongoing Russian invasion, as well as for Georgia and the South Caucasus region, Degnan voiced holiday season wishes for Georgian citizens.Photo: US Embassy's facebook page.
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United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Friday said Georgia was “very close” to the “historic” moment of obtaining the European Union membership candidate status, and added the country’s political spectrum “should unite around this goal”.
In her end-of-year interview with Imedi TV, the diplomat stressed the bloc was “waiting for common sense” in the ongoing domestic work for obtaining the status, to support the country’s “clear choice towards Europe”.
Pointing to the importance of peace for Ukraine amid its defence from the ongoing Russian invasion, as well as for Georgia and the South Caucasus region, Degnan voiced holiday season wishes for Georgian citizens.
“Most importantly, I want to wish you success in obtaining EU membership candidate status. You are close to it”, she added.
Georgia applied for EU membership in March along with Ukraine and Moldova, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The country was granted the European perspective by the European Council in June, and given priority conditions related to reforms in the country’s judiciary, electoral and other areas in order to receive the membership candidate status next year.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and President Salome Zourabichvili, along with US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, attended a solidarity concert marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries on Saturday evening.
Americans and Georgians are “built for a long-term partnership” and the two nations look forward to the “next decades” of their cooperation, the United States Embassy in Tbilisi said on Thursday in a statement dedicated to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has said that the US remains 'unwavering' about Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ambassador Degnan noted the US is willing to negotiate with Russia in order to prevent conflict but will not 'trade away' the sovereignty of any European countries, including that of Georgia.
The United States will stand with the people of Georgia and for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity "now, more than ever," said US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan in her latest video message from Washington, DC.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said the Georgian Government had complied with financial sanctions imposed by the international community on Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine “from the very beginning”.
Moving closer to the European Union brings greater prosperity and security for Georgia, for that reason Georgian people have been working towards the European future and European family, which the country has always been a part of, the United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said on Thursday.
Governor of the United States State of Georgia Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp will on Tuesday lead a delegation of state officials on an international mission beginning in Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi and ending in Paris, the US Embassy in Tbilisi said.
Cooperation plans were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between Brigadier General Roman Jokhadze, the Commander of the Georgian National Guard, and Major General Thomas Carden, the Adjutant General of the United States Department of Defence for the State of Georgia.