Accusations against the US are foolish, conspiratorial theories that are not based on facts, says Kelly Degnan
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, August 18, 2022
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has responded to the open letter from the former Georgian Dream members who recently left the party. In the letter, they accused the United States of having a 'rude and disrespectful' attitude towards the sovereignty of Georgia and its Institutions.
Kelly Degnan commented and said that these accusations against the USA are foolish, conspiratorial theories that are not based on facts, as United States' work in Georgia is to help the development of various institutions to ensure that Georgia becomes more stable and democratic and by blaming the United States for the polarization, they are attempting to put their own blame on the Western partners:
"As for the mentioned group of politicians, I don't know what they represent. It is clear that the US has been helping Georgia build its democratic institutions for many years. I don't know what this group represents, who they represent, I don't know how different they are from the ruling party they say they left. I can say that the recent accusations against the US are mindless, conspiracy theories that are not based on facts. It is very important to remember that the United States works with all political parties, with representatives of all political spectrums. We help in the development of Georgia's democratic institutions and economy, ensuring that it is a safer and more stable democratic country.
This is it, What we have been doing together with our Georgian partners for more than 30 years and we will continue to do it in the years to come. I will say that any accusation against us, as if we are responsible for the polarization here, is an attempt by those who know that they are responsible, to blame it on the Western partners, who have been doing nothing but trying to help Georgia on its European path for more than 30 years. That's all we do," said the ambassador.
US Ambassador pointed out that US has been helping Georgia to reduce the 'deep' polarization that exists in the country and suggested people to look into past, particularly "Gavrilov's Night", the night when the Tbilisi protests launched after Sergei Gavrilov, a Communist Party member of the Russian Duma who was visiting through the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, sat in a chair reserved by the protocol for the Head of Parliament of Georgia. She told the media that above mentioned Gavrilov's Night, unfulfilled promises, anti-democratic actions, etc. make Georgia deeply polarized. Degnan added that it is important for Georgia to work on the recommendations:
"Perhaps everyone remembers well what the situation was even three years ago, even before that, polarization existed even then and it was caused by many factors. I suggest the Georgian people look at the past and see where this polarization came from. Gavrilov's night, unfulfilled promises, anti-democratic actions, etc. ...I think that's where this polarization came from, not from the Western partners. I think it's very important now to work on the recommendations that have been made, and these recommendations are exactly what the political leaders promised the population that they would do, and this activity should be done inclusively", says the ambassador.
She also emphasized that the Parliament should work on important issues for the population of Georgia.
"Parliament and other institutions should focus on what is really important for Georgians: jobs, high prices, good education, public health care. Especially now, when the European Commission presented 12 recommendations. It's time to work together inclusively, it's time to put aside opposition and accept the status of a candidate," the ambassador said.
