On November 8, the US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan attended the Tbilisi Forum for Regional Security in the Black Sea.
Degnan said that due to risks heard from Russia, the event this year focused on nuclear and radiological threats in the Black Sea area. "We are delighted to be able to co-sponsor this very significant Tbilisi Forum for Regional Security in the Black Sea, which this year is focusing on nuclear and radiological threats in the Black Sea region, which is particularly important and very timely given what we hear from Russia in terms of threats. This brings together government organizations and other stakeholders to talk about these crucial topics and prepare for a CBRN [Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Office] occurrence," she added.
Moreover, the US Ambassador to Georgia stated, "Media freedom is an area that the United States Embassy has supported for 30 years, the entire period of diplomatic relations with Georgia, because it is central to a healthy democracy."
"The United States Embassy has backed media freedom because it is essential to a robust democracy for the past 30 years—during the entire time we have had diplomatic ties with Georgia. Both the Georgian and American constitutions have a provision for it," Kelly Degnan emphasized.
According to Kelly Degnan, the cornerstone of their democracies is weakened by anything that undermines or diminishes it. "We believe that media independence is essential to a strong democracy because of this," she concluded.
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