Kelly Degnan: Georgia is a valuable partner of NATO and the United States
"We will not talk about Europe without Europe, we will not talk about NATO without NATO and we will not talk about Georgia without Georgia. Countries have the sovereign right to choose their economic and security partners," U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said.
Kelly Degnan made the comment after a conversation between Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, which took place at the US Embassy in Georgia.
As Degnan noted, it is unclear why Russia is trying to destabilize European security, perhaps trying to distract the attention of Russians from internal problems or weaken the unity of NATO.
"Despite Russia's efforts now and in the past, Europe is still united. The leaders of the United States, NATO and Europe reaffirmed our common commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, and also stressed the need for Russia to take concrete measures to defuse tensions in order to achieve the success of diplomacy. In continuing the dialogue with Russia, we will be guided by the following most important principles: decisions regarding membership in NATO depend on each candidate country and 30 NATO allies. No one else has the right to vote or veto these decisions. We will not talk about Europe without Europe, we will not talk about NATO without NATO and we will not talk about Georgia without Georgia. Countries have the sovereign right to choose their economic and security partners," Kelly Degnan said.
According to her, the basic principles of international law have been bringing common peace and economic growth to the transatlantic community for more than 80 years.
"These are principles that Russian leaders have repeatedly agreed with. We must all firmly reject President Putin's attempt to replace these principles with Soviet domination, oppression and control. Georgia knows Russia well, based on your long history of struggle for independence. Georgia is a valuable partner of NATO and the United States, and we will work together to overcome this crisis, continuing to build a united, free and peaceful Europe," Kelly Degnan said.
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Kelly Degnan: Georgia is a valuable partner of NATO and the United States
"We will not talk about Europe without Europe, we will not talk about NATO without NATO and we will not talk about Georgia without Georgia. Countries have the sovereign right to choose their economic and security partners," U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said.
Kelly Degnan made the comment after a conversation between Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, which took place at the US Embassy in Georgia.
As Degnan noted, it is unclear why Russia is trying to destabilize European security, perhaps trying to distract the attention of Russians from internal problems or weaken the unity of NATO.
"Despite Russia's efforts now and in the past, Europe is still united. The leaders of the United States, NATO and Europe reaffirmed our common commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, and also stressed the need for Russia to take concrete measures to defuse tensions in order to achieve the success of diplomacy. In continuing the dialogue with Russia, we will be guided by the following most important principles: decisions regarding membership in NATO depend on each candidate country and 30 NATO allies. No one else has the right to vote or veto these decisions. We will not talk about Europe without Europe, we will not talk about NATO without NATO and we will not talk about Georgia without Georgia. Countries have the sovereign right to choose their economic and security partners," Kelly Degnan said.
According to her, the basic principles of international law have been bringing common peace and economic growth to the transatlantic community for more than 80 years.
"These are principles that Russian leaders have repeatedly agreed with. We must all firmly reject President Putin's attempt to replace these principles with Soviet domination, oppression and control. Georgia knows Russia well, based on your long history of struggle for independence. Georgia is a valuable partner of NATO and the United States, and we will work together to overcome this crisis, continuing to build a united, free and peaceful Europe," Kelly Degnan said.
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