2018-02-20
"Today, as various states, especially Russia, actively use different hybrid war tactics, with strategic communications having become the most powerful tool for not only forming public opinion, but also directly doing politics, I believe cooperation with the US in this direction to be crucially important to our country, so that we may maximally communicate to our population the benefits European and Euro-Atlantic integration has to offer Georgia today and in the future." This statement was made by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili during today's event dedicated to the launch of the strategic communications training program.
The Prime Minister personally thanked US Ambassador Ian Kelly and the US Em-bassy for financing the program.
"The US, as our strategic partner, has always stood by Georgia, and I believe that this program is yet another important demonstration of our exceptional friendship. I would like to thank Mr. Ian Kelly for assistance. We believe that this program is very important. It is especially important to improve our strategic communications in Georgia's regions. I would like to urge all our employees to make full use of this training and do their best to be actively engaged in the training process. We be-lieve that this program will tremendously improve strategic communication both in the capital and the regions. Not only will it be a communications improvement program, but also a research method to make its results available to the public and to form public opinion," the Prime Minister said.
The Head of Government also spoke about his recent meeting with US Defense Secretary James Mattis, during the 54th Munich Security Conference.
"I avail myself of this opportunity to reaffirm my gratitude for the clear messages of support expressed during that meeting. We discussed regional security challenges. I am pleased to point out that the US attaches great importance to stability in our region and to Georgia as a very important strategic partner in ensuring this stabil-ity," Giorgi Kvirikashvili emphasized.
The Prime Minister thanked Director Levan Dolidze of the Georgian Center for Security and Development, who is scheduled to deliver training sessions. The Prime Minister hopes that the program will prove a tremendous success.
The trainings for representatives of state agencies are delivered under the Strategic Communications Program of the Georgian Government. The project seeks to en-hance the strategic communications capabilities of the Georgian Government and local authorities, to improve the existing communication and coordination systems, and to enhance the capacities of relevant public servants.
US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly and Director Levan Dolidze of the Georgian Center for Security and Development participated in the program's opening cere-mony at the Administration of the Government.
Prime Minister's Press Office