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• Georgia: EU provides Emergency Management Service with equipment for rescue operations

  At the beginning of December, the EU Delegation in Georgia handed over equipment for rescue operations to the Emergency Management Service (EMS) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA). 

  EMS received seven high-mobility vehicles, three all-terrain vehicles, three drones, 40 sets of skis and ski equipment, and 12 items of victim search equipment. 

  “We hope the donated equipment and the complementary technical assistance will help EMS to improve its response to emergencies and disasters and better protect the health and lives of people living in Georgia,” Catalin Gherman, Acting Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Georgia.

  The support was provided by the European Union under its SAFE programme. Total value of the EU support provided to EMS in the framework of the ‘Support to Advancing

  The Technical Capacities for Ensuring Human Security’ project, implemented by UNOPS, amounts to US$2.5 million.

  From next year, the EU will additionally provide technical assistance to EMS, which will include the development of incident command systems, standard operating procedures and fire safety standards based on best European practices. This will bring the Service closer to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. 

  Find out more

  Press release

• Secretary Blinken’s Trilateral Meeting with Azerbaijan and Armenia

  The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

  Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosted Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov for the first direct talks since recent fighting. Secretary Blinken conveyed condolences for the lives lost and emphasized the need to prevent further hostilities, underscoring the importance of returning to the peace process. They discussed next steps, and the Secretary encouraged the sides to meet again before the end of the month.

  By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi 
• EBRD and US join forces to help Ukraine

  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the United States of America have joined forces to respond to the impact of the war on Ukraine. The United States of America has announced it will contribute US$ 500 million in donor funds to the EBRD’s response to the war on Ukraine.

  The funding comes in the form of grants to support investment. It marks a significant milestone in the Bank’s fundraising efforts, which have mobilised some €1 billion for Ukraine and affected countries so far.

  “The contribution agreement we are signing today between the USA and the EBRD has come at exactly the right time. We will start deploying it in Ukraine and neighbouring countries as soon as we can,” said Odile Renaud-Basso, the EBRD President.

  Find out more

  Press release

• Ilia Darchiashvili has thanked the UNSC Member States for their joint statement in support for Georgia

  The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, thanked the Member States of the United Nations Security Council for their joint statement on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war.
  “Thankful to the UNSC current (USA, Albania, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway and France), as well as incoming members (Japan and Malta)  for their joint statement to mark the 14 years  since the Russia-Georgia war. Through such statwemnrs , international community manifests its support to Georgia and calls on Russia to implement the EU-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement” – the Minister tweeted.
  At its behind-the-closed-doors meeting held to mark the 14th anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, the UN Security Council discussed the situation in Georgia’s regions occupied by Russia and the issues relating to the Russia-Georgia war. Following the meeting, the representatives of the UN Member States made a joint statements.

  MFA of Georgia

• Anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Georgia

  ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

  Fourteen years ago today, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia.  As we have done since 2008, we remember those killed and injured by Russian forces.  For decades, the citizens of Georgia in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have lived under Russian occupation and tens of thousands have been displaced, persecuted, and impoverished.  Lives and livelihoods have been taken from them.

  This year, Russia’s unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine underscores the need for the people of Georgia and Ukraine to stand together in solidarity.  The people of Georgia know all too well how Russia’s aggressive actions, including disinformation, so-called “borderization,” and mass displacement cause untold hardships and destruction.

  Russia must be accountable to the commitments it made under the 2008 ceasefire – withdrawing its forces to pre-conflict positions and allowing unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.  It also must reverse its recognition of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.  This is essential for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons to be able to return to their homes safely and with dignity.

  We remain steadfast in our support for the people of Georgia as they seek to protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity and find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

  PRESS STATEMENT 

  By U.S. Embassy Tbilisi | 7 August, 2022 |