Ambassador Degnan’s Remarks to Media at Parliament
Question about the event
Ambassador Degnan: Today was a great opportunity to come to Parliament with our new USAID Mission Director, John Pennell. We had a chance to talk about the many different areas of cooperation and partnership that USAID has throughout Georgia, from economic growth to energy independence, basic education, vocational education, industry-driven skills development, and of course, democracy and governance. We’ve done a lot of good work over the decades with Parliament on developing its oversight capabilities and helping to draft legislation in a number of different important ways that also protect the human rights of Georgian citizens. So, this was a wonderful opportunity to introduce our new USAID Mission Director. As the Speaker himself pointed out, much of his career has been spent in the development sector, in civil society, and so it was useful for us to exchange views on just how important of a role civil society and development organizations play in any government, especially here in Georgia where we’ve had such a long partnership over the last 30 years. I would say in that respect, some of the attacks against civil society have been particularly surprising. As many of the Members of Parliament who have worked in civil society before coming into government know, civil society plays a critical role in a healthy democracy. It’s sometimes uncomfortable to hear feedback from civil society, but that is their role. Their role is to protect the interests of the citizens and to hold the government accountable. Sometimes that feedback is uncomfortable, but they’re not there to work for the government. They’re not there to work for particular political parties. They’re there to work for the public and the rights of the citizens and to hold the government accountable. I think Georgia is fortunate to have a number of very professional, strong civil society organizations that are doing exactly that, whether it’s helping to clean the air, address climate change, or to help develop regulations that protect workers that improve communities. Civil society works across so many different sectors, and I think we should appreciate the good work that they do every day.
Question on new members of People’s Party
Ambassador Degnan: I’m not going to comment on the political developments in Georgia. I think the Georgian public can see very well what’s going on here. There is a confusing message coming from the government between aligning with those who seem to be moving to undermine the partnership between Georgia and the United States, and the statements from the Prime Minister and others about the importance of the partnership between the United States and Georgia and other strategic partners. I prefer to deal with facts. There’s plenty of disinformation and conspiracy theories out there. The facts are that for 30 years the United States has been committed to helping Georgia strengthen its security and supporting Georgia’s sovereignty. For 30 years, the United States has been supporting Georgia in developing its economy, in creating better jobs. I would say some of the good economic figures that we’re seeing in Georgia right now in part relate to the support that the United States, the EU, and other friends of Georgia provided to help cushion the outcome of the Covid pandemic and to help Georgia be in a good economic position coming out of this unprecedented situation, on top of the impact of the war or Russia’s war against Ukraine. For 30 years, the United States has also been trying to help Georgia build its democratic institutions so that the people of Georgia can have greater confidence that this country is moving toward a stronger, healthier democracy. That is what the people of Georgia have said they wanted for decades. The United States has been very proud and pleased to be able to help Georgia with all of those goals: stronger security, a stronger economy, and stronger democratic institutions. We look forward to continuing that partnership. Our meeting today with this speaker and his cabinet was a good chance to renew that partnership and to talk about the ways going forward that USAID and the US Embassy can continue to support Georgia on its path toward a Euro-Atlantic future. That’s what we all want to see: Georgia more fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic family.
Question on de-oligarchization
Ambassador Degnan: The issue behind de-oligarchization in any country is how to address undue influence by anyone in the political or the economic processes of a country, anyone who’s trying to influence the operation of government and society through excess money or influence. It’s an issue that many countries grapple with, including my own. There are different ways that countries address undue influence in the political sector, and I think each country needs to debate that and come up with its own solution. I personally don’t think it’s always helpful to just borrow somebody else’s without tailoring it to the specifics of your country’s situation. There are many good examples out there that can be examined and crafted into something that is appropriate for Georgia, and the underlying problem, which is undue influence that affects the political will of the people. For instance, instead of having an election that reflects what the voters have voted, you have a distorted view because there’s been an undue influence on the process. What any law like this is meant to do is to try to ensure that there is transparency, accountability, and a level playing field so that the people’s voice is heard.
Related items
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MEETING OF SHALVA PAPUASHVILI WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ICELAND
The Speaker, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland (Althingi), Birgir Ármannsson.
The parties hailed the recent intensification of Georgia-Iceland relations and highlighted the significance of high-level visits for further extension of the bilateral links. In this light, it was emphasized that Georgia is hosting the President of Iceland, Guðni Jóhannesson in the autumn of 2023.
Speaker Papuashvili overviewed the progress of Georgia at the NATO integration path and upheld democratic reforms. As he underlined, Georgia attaches particular value to the opportunity to participate in the NATO Summit scheduled in July and expressed his hope for the support of Iceland in this regard.
The parties touched upon the Russian war in Ukraine and its consequences for Georgia.
Speaker Ármannsson expressed the support of his country to the NATO integration of Georgia and shared the experience of Iceland in the relations with the EU as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). The parties agreed on further intensification of parliamentary ties.
The meeting was held within the framework of the official visit of Speaker Papuashvili to the Czech Republic, where Mr. Papuashvili and the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Maka Botchorishvili participate in the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC).
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AMBASSADOR DEGNAN'S REMARKS TO MEDIA AT SKILLS WEEK
Question about the event
Ambassador Degnan: I’m very pleased to be here today, along with the Minister of Education, my EU colleague, and many other distinguished guests for the launch of Georgia’s Skills Week. The United States has been helping Georgia develop its education sector for years, including in the area of vocational education and training. This is because we want Georgian citizens to be able to acquire the skills they need through vocational education and training in order to get good paying jobs for rewarding lifelong careers. This is our latest program through USAID: industry-led skills bring together the private sector that coordinates with vocational education and training institutions to make sure that students are coming out with the skills that are needed in today’s market. The programs are designed to bring together the government, the private sector, vocational and education training institutions, and civil society to make sure that Georgians have the opportunity for better paying jobs and rewarding careers that are going to help both their families and their communities. So, we are delighted today to launch Skills Week, a weeklong celebration of the achievements that Georgia has made in this area.
Question on designations on individuals associated with the Georgian judiciary and U.S. study tours for judges
Ambassador Degnan: Our study tours have been popular and successful because they bring together judges from the United States with judges in Georgia and give them an opportunity to learn from each other and to share their best practices and lessons learned. Sometimes they talk about how they manage their courtrooms, the heavy workloads, or sometimes particularly interesting issues that come up during cases. Our programs are open to those who are qualified, as well as those who will benefit from these exchanges with American judges and maybe bring ideas back to their courtrooms. They’re also open to those who can go because this is a big time commitment. Sometimes, given the workloads of judges here, they’re not always able to go for the full two weeks; sometimes it’s even longer than two weeks. So, we are always delighted when Georgian judges choose to participate in our programs, and we usually have a lot of interest in them. We look forward to continuing this great exchange between Georgian and American judges.
On your second question, Parliament created these investigatory commissions as a mechanism to look into issues that are important to the people of Georgia, to look into issues of the day that require greater transparency, and more information to allow the citizens of Georgia to be better informed and also to hold people accountable and provide transparency on important issues. So, the reason this mechanism was created by Parliament was to provide citizens with more information. I think it’s a very useful technique that’s been a mechanism that’s used in many different Parliaments, including the US Congress. We would hope that Parliament and Members of Parliament would make full use of these tools that they have created in the interest of their citizens.
Question on Helsinki Commission’s call for Nika Gvaramia’s release
Ambassador Degnan: The Helsinki Commission is a very well-respected organization that has a mandate from the United States Congress to monitor human rights around the world, including media freedom. They have been clear, as have many others, including our Embassy, on concerns about Mr. Gvaramia’s case, including the original charges, the timing of the charges, and then subsequently the conviction and decision. This is a letter from an organization that has been a friend of Georgia’s for a very long time, a strong supporter of Georgia in its democratic development and its progress toward European integration. Any decision regarding pardoning is solely up to President Zourabichvili, and I’m sure she takes all of the requests—such as those from the Helsinki Commission—into consideration in making her decisions.
Source: https://ge.usembassy.gov/ambassador-degnans-remarks-to-media-at-skills-week/
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The Parliament discussed the Maritime Labor Convention presented by the government for ratification and the package of legislative amendments arising from it.
The ratification agreement, according to Guram Guramishvili, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, aims to improve the living circumstances of Georgian mariners and to safeguard their social and labor rights.The proposed law outlines the requirements for sailors working aboard ships conducting commercial operations while flying the Georgian national flag. The services working in the maritime industry, as well as the uniform requirements and guidelines for the shipowner's employment of Georgian citizens as seafarers on a vessel flying under any flag.
"The adoption of the draft law will help protect the labor rights of Georgian sailors and increase the authority of the state flag of Georgia”, - Guram Guramishvili noted.
As the speaker stated, the legislative changes will be based on the commitments provided by the EUAA.
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The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili held a meeting with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani.
Speaker Papuashvili thanked the North Macedonian politician for the visit and the support that OSCE renders to Georgia in this geopolitically complicated period.
The Speaker dwelt on the support of Georgia to Ukraine and the Russia-Ukraine war repercussions on the region.
Mr. Osmani expressed his gratitude for the active engagement of Georgia in the OSCE activity underlining that Georgia is a hub of regional initiatives and the support of diverse diplomacy.
The parties touched upon the grave situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and affirmed the importance of the uninterruptedness of the Geneva Talks. The progress of Georgia and North Macedonia at the EU integration path has been highlighted. As B. Osmani emphasized, North Macedonia has acquired significant experience at the long EU integration path and is committed to sharing it with Georgia.
The meeting was attended by MPs Nikoloz Samkharadze, Khatia Tsilosani, Tinatin Bokuchava and Ketevan Turazashvili.
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The annual celebration of World Health Day on April 7 is a significant event for both the Turkmen people and all progressive mankind.
This year, on April 7, the World Health Organization celebrates:
75th Anniversary, founded on a collective initiative of the countries of the world in 1948 and aimed at promoting the health of people, maintaining security in the world and serving the interests of vulnerable groups so that everyone, wherever they are, has the opportunity to achieve the highest level health and well-being.
The seventy-fifth anniversary of WHO is an occasion to remember the successes that have improved the quality of people's lives over the past seven decades. This year, it is also an opportunity to give impetus to action to address the pressing health problems of today and tomorrow.
April 7, 2023 is held under the slogan "Health for all".
At the same time, it is necessary to emphasize the following priorities of the World Health Organization, which are reflected in the strengthening of the multilateral cooperation of Turkmenistan with the states of the world and leading international structures in the field of healthcare:
• Health for all means good health and a fulfilling life for everyone in a prosperous and sustainable world without war or conflict.
• The right to health is one of the fundamental human rights.
• Ensuring access to universal health coverage, financial protection and strengthening family and community well-being.
Turkmenistan has been a member of the World Health Organization since 1992. Over the course of 31 years of joint cooperation, huge successes have been achieved aimed at improving the health of the population of Turkmenistan.
The right to health is one of the fundamental human rights and means that everyone should have access to health care without experiencing financial hardship. This principle is one of the priorities of the state policy of Turkmenistan.
During the years of independence, guided by the State Program "Saglyk" of the Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, a lot of work has been done to protect the health of the population, establish the principles of a healthy lifestyle, develop physical culture and mass sports. A network of modern medical institutions was created throughout the country – “Ene mähri” and emergency ambulance centers, multidisciplinary hospitals and sanatoriums, and pharmaceutical enterprises. All the necessary conditions have been created for improving the health of the population, preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases with modern innovative methods, increasing human life expectancy, and ensuring the availability of high-quality medical services.
Many years of positive experience of cooperation with the World Health Organization and UN agencies is evidence of the successful implementation of a number of significant joint projects and programs in various priority areas of national health, and the success and outstanding achievements of Turkmenistan in ensuring public health are marked by international certificates and certificates of recognition of the eradication of dracunculiasis, eradication of poliomyelitis, as well as international awards for universal salt iodization, elimination of malaria, for leadership in the fortification of flour with iron and folic acid, a document confirming the absence of measles and rubella in Turkmenistan.
WHO supports the position of Turkmenistan in addressing issues of maternal and child health by supporting the development of national strategies and action plans for child and adolescent health and reproductive health.
Over the years of joint cooperation, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has also supported the promotion of Turkmenistan's initiatives at the international level, twice electing Turkmenistan to the Standing Committee of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.
WHO and Turkmenistan are successfully collaborating in the fight against TB to achieve a global end to the TB epidemic by 2035. Collaboration has been strengthened to combat antimicrobial resistance and strengthen the capacity of the public health laboratory service.
Within the framework of cooperation, surveillance of infectious diseases has been strengthened and preventive measures have been introduced to prevent their spread, examples of which are the National Concept for Integrated Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases, the National Immunization Program, and strengthening the routine immunization system.
With the support of WHO, various activities are being carried out aimed at maintaining the status of the country as a “territory free from the circulation of wild polioviruses”.
Joint initiatives agreed at a high level are being successfully implemented, namely, supporting the participation of Turkmenistan in a special program of the World Health Organization for the study of the coronavirus genome. Strengthened national capacity for genetic sequencing of viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2. In February 2023, whole genome sequencing of 10 influenza virus samples was performed by National Laboratory Virologists and submitted to the Global Initiative to Share All Influenza Data (GISAID) platform. On July 4, 2022, a High-Level Sub-Regional Consultative Meeting was held in Ashgabat to promote the One Health concept for the countries of Central Asia.
In Turkmenistan, the fight against non-communicable diseases is one of the main priorities, closely linking them with the implementation of the 2030 Global Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Second WHO European High-Level Conference “Time to Keep the Promise – Meeting the Challenges of Combating Noncommunicable Diseases to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe”, which was held in Ashgabat in 2019, pushed the implementation of the commitments made at the UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, and also measures to support countries in their implementation. In 2024, Turkmenistan plans to hold the third high-level conference on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in honor of 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Ashgabat Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases. This is also the political commitment of Turkmenistan to maintain and strengthen a healthy lifestyle through the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
The effectiveness of national efforts and international partnerships in this direction was highly appreciated by all forum participants and, above all, by the World Health Organization and its Regional Office for Europe, with the presentation of a certificate of recognition by the World Health Organization for the country's outstanding contribution to the prevention of non-communicable diseases on behalf of the WHO Director-General, Mr.Tedros Ghebreyesus.
Adopted by the National Strategy "Healthy Mother - Healthy Child - Healthy Future", the National Program for Improving the Immunity of the Population in Turkmenistan, the National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases for 2021-2025 and the National Program for Turning Turkmenistan into a Tobacco-Free Country for 2022 -2025 years have significantly optimized the activities of the health care system.
Particular importance is attached to the development of mass physical culture and sports, the Olympic movement, and relevant national programs are being successfully implemented aimed at improving primary health care, ensuring the provision of quality basic medical services, taking into account vulnerable groups of the population and based on the principles of justice, gender equality and respect for rights. human beings, promoting the health and well-being of all people at all ages.
A modern infrastructure has been formed in the healthcare system. Medical centers, specialized clinics, sanatoriums equipped with innovative technologies have been built in the capital and in all velayats of the country. On this basis, great success has been achieved in the formation of an advanced sports and recreation infrastructure that meets international standards.
The activities of the established charitable foundation to assist children in need of care named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov are aimed at addressing issues of protecting public health, in the field of motherhood and childhood. All this is evidence of a positive result in the modernization of the national healthcare system, improving the standard of living and well-being of every person - the highest value of the Turkmen society and state.
Most of the State budget is directed to financing the social sphere, including reforming the healthcare and education systems.
With the beginning of the development of a new type of coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and over the past years, Turkmenistan has received support from the WHO and UN agencies. Based on the guidelines of the WHO Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response to COVID-19, the country approved and successfully implemented a joint Plan for Preparedness and Response of Turkmenistan for Acute Infectious Disease, focusing on the main areas of WHO COVID-19 activities related to prevention, treatment, diagnosis and vaccination of COVID-19.
The ongoing program changes and reforms are an effective incentive for the further development of the healthcare system and the medical industry of independent and neutral Turkmenistan and lay the foundation for further cooperation in the field of healthcare.
On World Health Day, Turkmenistan once again expresses its full support for the activities of the WHO, thanks the leadership and staff of the Organization for their selfless and professional work. Our country will continue to closely cooperate with the World Health Organization and is ready to continue to provide it with all possible assistance.
Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan
