Question about the event

Ambassador Kelly Degnan: We are delighted to be here tonight to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Georgia. I’ve had a chance to visit with some of our partners during the two days I’ve been here so far, but tonight’s reception is to thank our wonderful partners here in Adjara for all of the great work that we’ve been doing together over the last 30 years. There have been some really important initiatives that have helped develop the economy, develop civil society, develop democracy and local governance, as well as security cooperation, and many other areas that we’re working on with our Georgian partners here in the entire region. So, tonight is really our thank you.

Question on Georgia’s EU application and the possibility of receiving candidate status

Ambassador Kelly Degnan: For 30 years, the United States has been working toward Georgia’s full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. Almost everything that we have done and are doing here in Georgia is designed to support the people of Georgia’s desire to be part of the European Union and to be part of NATO. That is what the people of Georgia want, and that is what the United States firmly supports. We have been advocating on behalf of Georgia’s EU candidacy because we want to see Georgia succeed in its European aspirations.

When I hear people say that the United States is working against Georgia or trying to drag Georgia into the war or open a “second front,” that is a hundred percent Russian disinformation. That is absolutely not true. The United States has done everything we can to stop this war, to stop the fighting. Even before hostilities broke open, the United States was the country that was working hardest to prevent this war from happening. We absolutely do not want to see Georgia dragged into this war. In our view, what the European Union – what NATO stands for is peace, stability, prosperity. You can see it in every country you’re in: the stability and prosperity and the peace that come with being part of the Euro-Atlantic community. And we want that for Georgia too. We know that’s what the Georgian people want as well. So, we’re going to continue to be fully committed to Georgia’s sovereignty, to its territorial integrity, and to its desire to be fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic family of nations.

Question about the Prime Minister’s recent comments

Ambassador Kelly Degnan: I won’t speak on behalf of the Prime Minister, but what I can say is I don’t know anybody in Georgia who wants Georgia to be part of this war. I think everybody in Georgia is  – and certainly, the United States is very aware—of what Georgians have gone through and how they are feeling. What’s going on in the outpouring of humanitarian assistance and support for Ukraine is a good indication of where Georgians’ hearts are in this fight. What is really needed is not this fighting amongst Georgians. It’s for Georgians to come together. This is one issue where I would hope Georgia’s leaders could put aside their differences and come together in the interest of this country’s future: in the interest of this country’s stability and prosperity. Unity is what is needed right now, not more fighting: unity. I would love to see Georgians live up to their motto of “dzala ertobashia” that’s what’s needed right now.

On 8 June, EU High Representative Josep Borrell announced the appointment of a new EU ambassador to Georgia, among 31 new heads of EU delegations.

Polish diplomat Pawel Herczynski will replace his Swedish colleague Carl Hartzell. 

Pawel Herczynski is currently European External Action Service (EEAS) Managing Director for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Crisis Response, and also served as Director for Security and Defence Policy at the EEAS. Prior to that, he was Polish ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC).

The new ambassador will be formally appointed once the relevant host country agreements have been received. 

Find out more

Press release

European Union Ambassador Carl Hartzell has congratulated the people of Georgia on Independence Day, saying that the EU remains unwavering in its support of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

He added that in these difficult times, the EU stands in solidarity not only with Ukraine, but also with Georgia, and “cherishes the deep bonds that exist between us. Bonds that we wish to see growing stronger.”

Hartzell also reminded that on 3 March, the Government of Georgia applied for EU membership, “which reflects the aspirations of an overwhelming majority of its population”.

“Georgia has made a choice founded on its historical values. Now is the moment for Georgia to act decisively to demonstrate its determination on this European path,” said Hartzell.

Find out more

Press release

The Prosecutor General of Georgia Irakli Shotadze and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Georgia Kelly Degnan handed over certificates to the participants of the training related to cryptocurrency crimes conducted with the support of the US Department of Justice.
According to the administration of the Prosecutor General of Georgia, the four-day training on cryptocurrency crimes, in which prosecutors, investigators from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service and the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance participated, ended.
The event was attended by the Deputy Prosecutor Generals, Resident Adviser to the United States Department of Justice, Lena Owens and representatives of the United States Embassy in Georgia.
The Prosecutor General of Georgia Irakli Shotadze thanked the United States Embassy in Georgia and the US Department of Justice for their support. According to the Prosecutor General, new recommendations have been developed with American experts to search and seize digital assets, which will be an important guide for prosecutors and investigators in the fight against cybercrime. Also, a special unit for seizing cryptocurrencies will be created with the support of the US Department of Justice.
According to the US Ambassador Kelly Degnan, the United States will continue cooperation with Georgia in this direction in the future. As she said, a group of the best experts was selected for the training and they shared their practices and experience with the participants.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America emphasized the importance of close cooperation in the future in strengthening the justice system and the fight against cryptocurrency-related crimes.
The four-day training at the General Prosecutor’s Office was led by Andrew Zhigielskiy, Christopher Wongs, Tom Dogherts and Nikhil Bhagats-experts in the field of the cybercrime investigation of the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cryptocurrency-related crime training covered important topics such as criminal use of virtual assets, search and seizure of virtual assets, analysis of cryptocurrency-related criminal cases, international cooperation in cybercrime cases, etc.
In order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against cybercrime, a number of important training activities are planned in cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia and the US Department of Justice.

“During the meeting with our fellow congressmen in the US Congress, we received a very clear support for Georgia. We thank the Congressmen for their bipartisan support, which is expressed in the Georgia Support Act. According to the administration of the Ministry of Economics, clear political support is especially important in a difficult situation in the region, where we are talking about the US Congress and Congressmen supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in all formats,” – Deputy Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili stated after the meeting with Congressmen Darren Soto and Brendan Boyle. The meetings was held within the framework of the Vice Prime Minister’s working visit to the United States. Ambassador of Georgia to the United States, Davit Zalkaliani also participated in the meeting.

The meetings with the congressmen focused on the current events in the Black Sea region, as well as the challenges and ways of their overcoming. It was noted that the United States continues to support Georgia in its EU and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Georgia is interested in moving its strategic partnership with the United States to a new level, which is one of the main priorities of the country’s foreign policy. In this regard, the importance of deepening economic relations between the two countries as well as developing trade and investment ties, including the possibility of concluding a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, was stressed. It was also noted that the launching of direct flights between Georgia and the United States will help to further deepen bilateral economic relations.

Levan Davitashvili noted that it is very important, in general, that Congress expresses clear support for the deepening of cooperation with Georgia, and this is a very clear message. According to him, there is a desire on the part of the Congressmen to implement more joint projects with Georgia.

On May 10, 2022, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Turkmenistan, Ms. Beth Eden Kite.

Presenting her credentials, the diplomat conveyed warm greetings from the President of Israel Yitzhak Herzog and expressed her wishes for great success to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the highest state post.

Congratulating the plenipotentiary representative of the friendly country on her appointment to this post, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov conveyed his best wishes in response to the top leadership of Israel.

During the conversation, a wide range of issues was discussed regarding the further expansion of a productive dialogue in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, taking into account the interests of the two states and the great potential that exists.

Confirming the mutual focus of our countries on the progressive building up of interstate relations, the interlocutors identified priority areas for further partnership, the key vectors of which are the trade-economic sphere, high technologies, agriculture, rational use of water resources, etc. The importance of enhancing cooperation in the field of science, culture, education, health care was also emphasized.

Once again congratulating Ms. Beth Eden Kite on the start of work in Turkmenistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov wished success in the further development of interstate cooperation.

Thanking for the good parting words, the Israeli diplomat assured the head of Turkmenistan that she would make every effort to strengthen and deepen the traditionally friendly Israeli-Turkmen relations.

WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today met with Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili.  Ambassador Tai and Vice Prime Minister Davitashvili discussed U.S. support for Georgia in this time of crisis in the region. They also discussed how the United States and Georgia can work together on joint initiatives to further deepen the U.S.-Georgia trade relationship.

Ambassador Tai and Vice Prime Minister Davitashvili agreed to stay in communication on these, and other priorities, in the future.

To help increase youth employment in rural communities, the U.S. Government funded an innovative project for high school students and teachers in Guria designed to strengthen vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

The agriculture entrepreneurship clubs that have been created in the framework of this project will continue to provide entrepreneurial knowledge to teachers and students via long term networks. US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan met with the talented and motivated youth of Guria and heard about their achievements made possible through this project.