US Ambassador Encourages Government to Unite with All Stakeholders for EU Membership Bid
By Khatia Bzhalava
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
US ambassador to Georgia H.E. Kelly Degnan told reporters on Tuesday that it is time for the government of Georgia to work with all the stakeholders, including opposition parties and civil society to address the conditions and recommendations given by the European Council. She also noted that the Georgian people ‘clearly’ expressed their support for Georgia’s EU membership on June 20.
“I think the moment is here now for the government of Georgia to work with all the stakeholders, including opposition parties, including civil society to address the conditions and recommendations that the European Council gave that is a clear way forward for Georgia to candidate status. They couldn’t have made it clearer,” the ambassador noted, adding that Georgia needs to demonstrate its commitment to democracy and reforms to become an EU member. The Ambassador expressed hope to see the government and society come together to unify for the path to European Union membership in the coming future.
The US ambassador also made comments on Ukraine-Georgia relations and the accusations made by Ukrainian high officials regarding the circumvention of sanctions. She noted that such allegations are ‘serious’ and encouraged the countries to discuss these issues at the governmental level.
“Ukraine is fighting for every city, for every life. And this is not the time when Georgia and Ukraine are against each other. This is the time for these two countries to come together against the occupier of both of their countries,” said the US Ambassador.
Yesterday, Ambassador Degnan also launched a new USAID Public Defender’s Office partnership program, which aims to further strengthen the effectiveness of the Public Defender’s Office in its role of protecting the human rights of Georgian citizens. According to the ambassador, professionals in the Public Defender’s Office work very hard to hold their government agencies and officials accountable and to ensure that the human rights of all of Georgia’s citizens are protected. As she noted, the Public Defender’s office is ‘far too often attacked unfairly’ for doing what Georgia’s constitution requires and mandates them to do.
“For the United States, strengthening democracy and protecting human rights is at the very center of our foreign policy: here in Georgia and around the world. And that is one reason why we have appreciated the close partnership that we’ve had with the Public Defender’s Office here in Georgia,” the US Ambassador to Georgia said.
