"There are many people who are paying a price today for defending democracy. There are citizens who are jailed because they are political opponents of the government", - the United States Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, stated at the Independence Day event in Tbilisi.
According to Ambassador Dunnigan, the United States has been the strongest supporter of Georgia since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
“Today, we mark the 249th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America. Each year, on the Fourth of July, Americans come together to celebrate our independence. It is a time when we reflect on what it means to be an American and what it means to enjoy the fundamental freedoms of our democracy.
This year, I find myself reflecting more deeply than ever on the concept of democracy. I believe this moment in history demands reflection on our democracy, on the freedoms we enjoy and our duty to future generations.
For me, there are three vital elements that allow democracies to flourish: promise, duty, and optimism. Let me touch briefly on each of these.
First, promise. The United States has come a long way since our founding. We have had our challenges and dark moments, and we have had our days of victory, pride and joy. But throughout the waves of our history, we have always united around a shared promise.
A promise that when free people are given the right to speak, debate, worship, and vote, the greater good will prevail. A promise that the United States will grow stronger with each generation. That we will leave a better nation and future for our children.
Indeed, I believe the promise of democracy is one of the enduring bonds between Americans and Georgians, and it is why the United States has been the strongest supporter of Georgia since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
In my time here, I have seen how hard so many Georgians are working to deliver on the promise of democracy. I have witnessed freedom of religion in the heart of Tbilisi, where the peaceful coexistence of churches, synagogues and mosques is a symbol of the spirit of community and inclusion of the Georgian people.
I have heard some say that the U.S.-Georgian partnership is a partnership in name only. I think we all know this is not true. Americans and Georgians have been true partners in our quest for democracy for over three decades.
I have met thousands of Georgians who told me how the U.S.-Georgian partnership helped them. Farmers, teachers, students, doctors, and business people, all of whom told me how their collaboration with America improved their lives.
In the aftermath of Russia’s 2008 invasion, the United States was here. As Russian tanks were withdrawing, U.S. tractors and engineers and food aid were arriving. Because that’s what friends in democracies do.
I have met countless members of the Georgian armed forces, medical researchers, and law enforcement officials who speak of their American counterparts as their brothers and sisters. All of us, working together to improve the lives of Georgians and Americans, to help both of our countries deliver on the promise of democracy.
July 4 is also a day when Americans reflect on the tremendous sacrifices made for our independence, a day when we remember that freedom is not free. Today is a day when we reflect on our obligation to future generations, which brings me to a second key tenet of democracy: duty.
The price of preserving our liberties is real. Our men and women in uniform know that all too well, and I want to thank them for volunteering to pay the ultimate price for our freedom.
There are many others who are paying a price today for defending democracy. There are citizens who are jailed because they are political opponents of the government. There are civil society representatives who are being targeted for their work to promote the rule of law, free media, and free and fair elections. And there are ordinary citizens who are being labelled “radical” because their views differ from government officials.
As our Vice President said, “you cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail, nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like who gets to be a part of our shared society.”
For those of us who enjoy the freedom of democracy, we should never take it for granted. We must always work to protect and nurture the freedoms we hold dear. In the
words of John F. Kennedy, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It was the price yesterday. It is the price today, and it will ever be the price.”
Finally, I come to the vital lifeblood of democracy – optimism. And I am optimistic about democracy in the United States and here in Georgia.
I am optimistic because I know the vast majority of Americans and Georgians believe in the promise of our democracy and our duty to defend it. I am optimistic because of the many people in the United States and Georgia committed to service for their country. I am also optimistic because I know the youth in both of our countries are extraordinary. I have been inspired time and again by the next generation of Americans and Georgians. They are what gives me optimism about our futures, and the future of the American-Georgian partnership.
Speaking of the American-Georgian partnership, I want to take a moment to thank the incredible team here at the U.S. Embassy for all you do to support the United States and Georgia, including organizing today’s celebration. I also want to say a special thank you to our USAID team and the legacy you are leaving in this country.
Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to our generous sponsors for your support. I know our sponsors also believe in the power of the American-Georgian friendship. As many of you know, my husband Harry and I have decided to retire after 33 years as U.S. diplomats, and we will be departing this amazing country later this month.
Since the day we arrived, Georgians have opened their hearts and their homes to us, making us feel that we too are part of the Georgian family. Thank you all of you – for your friendship. We will forever be friends of Georgia, and I will leave a piece of my heart behind when I depart. And I will never stop believing in and supporting the future of democracy in Georgia.
Let me close by asking you to join me in a toast to the power of the promise of democracy, our duty to defend it, and optimism that we will succeed.
Happy Birthday, America! Gaumarjos!” Robin Dunnigan concluded her speech.
The Ambassador thanked the Gori Girls Choir and the State of Georgia National Guard Band for their wonderful performances, and also thanked the United States Marines.
The U.S. Embassy’s Independence Day celebration was attended by Georgian officials, including Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani, Education Minister Givi Mikanadze, Reconciliation and Civic Equality State Minister Tea Akhvlediani, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, and Internal Affairs Minister Gela Geladze, as well as opposition party representatives.
