State Security Service highlights “effective, close” coordination with “strategic” int’l partners in 2023

The Georgian State Security Service on Monday highlighted its “critically important, effective and close” cooperation with fellow agencies in international “strategic partner” states and bodies throughout 2023 in its annual report to the Parliament.

The report said coordination with the partners aimed to “further strengthen” the Service's capabilities in “certain security directions” and exchange information on “security issues” taking into account the “most difficult” situation in the Black Sea region and “new geopolitical factors”.

The Agency said it had an “ongoing [and] close” coordination in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and hybrid threats with the strategic allies in “various formats”.

The report also highlighted high-level meetings held with heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, relevant agencies of partner countries and international organisations, as well as cooperation within expert meetings and bilateral working groups, which it said contributed to the development of new security projects and initiatives.

The document said the Service “successfully continued” cooperation with international partners in bilateral and multilateral formats, including in an expanding cooperation with Europol, and added Georgia became a member of Hydra, an operational counter-terrorist analysis project.

During the reporting year the Service made “appropriate responses” to about 60 international agreement projects, including in combating crime, defence, transport and air traffic, customs, readmission and visa-free travel, it added.

The body also emphasised employees of the Service participated in “various events and training courses” organised by partner countries, including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies.

The document said in 2023 it had been “especially important” to cooperate with NATO and participate in implementation of “relevant initiatives” of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. 

The Service noted it also pursued its “priority” task of cooperation with the European Union and its agencies in security and law enforcement, and emphasised the body’s “successful continuation” of participation in the global coalition against ISIS.

The agency “continuously prepared information and reports” on the fulfilment of obligations and recommendations stipulated by the international legal instruments of the United Nations and the Council of Europe that have been recognised by Georgia as binding, it also pointed out.

The work also involved reports for the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly and documents received within the framework of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, with the national institution providing the documents to relevant international organisations and their agencies.