"We cannot, and will not, trade away European security, sovereignty, or freedom," said US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan, adding that while Washington is willing to negotiate with Moscow to avoid conflict and de-escalate, they will not do anything that would impinge on “European security, sovereignty, or freedom.”
"Russia does not receive a veto over your sovereign decisions," Ambassador Degnan said in a video message at US-Russia security talks.
She reaffirmed Washington's steadfast support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit Declaration, which said that Georgia and Ukraine will ultimately join NATO - a decision Moscow wants NATO to reverse.
"They are an attempt to reject thirty years of post-Cold War peace, stability, and prosperity in order to re-create Soviet power and control over its neighbours," Ambassador Degnan stated, dismissing Moscow's claims on these "security guarantees."
Russian President Vladimir Putin's purpose, according to the US official, is to prevent Georgia and other countries from "acting as fully sovereign, independent states with the freedom to pick their own security partners."
In view of Russia's demand that it be "allowed to develop an exclusive sphere of influence over Eastern Europe and the Caucasus," she stressed the significance of high-level diplomacy.
The Ambassador underscored in her statements that the United States will not "negotiate about Georgia without Georgia" and that Washington will communicate with Tbilisi throughout the security negotiations.
