US Concerned About Georgia's Democratic Development Path

| News, Georgia

On October 24, Ned Price, the US State Department Spokesperson, emphasized that the State Department has already voiced its concerns about some of the disturbing statements emerging from Georgia's political system and society, as well as government actions, including stalling or moving backward on important democratic reforms and attacks on the US Ambassador.

"Such efforts have generated impediments to the obvious, overwhelming desires of the people of Georgia for EU membership and greater EU-Atlantic aspiration," said Spokesperson Price. He added that this level of polarization is not helpful for the country of Georgia's broader political aspirations and that he was concerned because they have also deepened polarization within Georgian society rather than unifying the country around the core issues of Euro-Atlantic integration. 

Speaking further about whether the current situation in Georgia undermines Georgia's American interest in Georgia, especially in light of this event and the war that broke out in February, Spokesperson Price added, "We think some of the actions, some of the rhetoric, have worked against the interests of the Georgian people." 

When asked if the State Department had discussed sanctions with the Ukrainian government and about Ukraine's decision to sanction several relatives of Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has been controlling and orchestrating Georgian politics for the last ten years, Spokesperson Price responded, "We have a close working relationship with our Ukrainian partners. To comment on whatever consequences they may have imposed, I would have to defer to them." He emphasized, "We are dedicated to working with Georgia's government as it implements the changes that have been demanded by the European Union, in this case, by the European Commission. We wish to collaborate with Georgia on its development and wider objectives for Europe."

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