United States Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, on Thursday, reiterated “the absolute support of the United States government and the American people for the people of Georgia.”
“We have been partners for 33 years. 33 years we’ve worked together, we have fought together, we have helped build schools together, and clinics together, and we’ve done that together to help support Georgia’s independence, its sovereignty, and its path to Euro-Atlantic integration. And we will continue to do that for the people of Georgia,” Robin Dunnigan stated.
Asked about the Secretary of State’s statement about pausing over $95 million assistance to Georgian gov’t, the Ambassador said, “We have spoken many times with the government of Georgia about some of the actions that we are extremely concerned about, some anti-democratic actions, such as the foreign influence law, but other actions as well, about the false statements about the United States, the negative rhetoric about the United States and the west. And we have expressed our concerns many times, and we have asked the government to reconsider its actions, and we’ve also said that we would be reviewing our bilateral relationship. And yesterday, Secretary Blinken announced that as a result of that review, he is putting on hold, on pause, some portion of our assistance that goes directly to the government. Our assistance to students, and teachers, and farmers, and small business owners, and community activists, and civil society organizations that assistance will continue.”
Robin Dunnigan pledged that “the U.S. assistance for now to the Georgian defense forces will also continue. That has not yet been affected, but as the Secretary has said, everything is under review. What we hope to see is, you know, unfortunately, the European Union has said these actions and this disinformation has led to a halt in Georgia’s EU accession process. And what we would love to see is for us to work together again, to help realize the aspirations of the Georgian people to become a member of the Western family of democracies. And we are ready to restart that relationship. So, I hope that we can get back on track and the government can take some important steps to help us do that. But I want to reiterate, we will always be a friend and partner to the people of Georgia. “
