US focused on helping Georgia regardless of the party in power, Ambassador Degnan says

The US cares about Georgia and is focused on helping Georgia regardless of the party in power, said Kelly Degnan, US Ambassador to Georgia.

“We have been very clear, consistent and transparent about why the United States cares about Georgia and what the United States is doing here in Georgia for 30 years regardless of the party in power. We have been working to help Georgia to be more secure, more prepared to defend Georgia’s borders, to help the economy to be more diversified and developed, to create more jobs, to improve the education system, to improve the healthcare system, and of course, to help Georgia to continue building its democratic institutions, that started building 100 years ago before Russia invaded it. Georgia was already a very progressive democracy in 1918 and now you are picking up that work again.

The United States has been supporting Georgia’s efforts to build those democratic institutions, not only because that is what the majority of Georgians want, but that is also necessary to bring Georgia into the European Union and NATO, which is also what the vast majority of Georgians want. The focus of all Georgians, members of parliament and political leaders, right now, should be doing absolutely everything they can to accomplish the European Union candidate status for this country.

Georgia has done and accomplished so much, the Association Agreement, Free Trade Agreement, and visa-free travel. The next important step is within your grasp, within your reach, but Georgia’s leaders need 100 per cent focus on accomplishing that for the people of Georgia because that is what Georgian people want and the United States is focused on helping Georgia achieve that,” Ambassador Degnan said.