Deputy Chief of Mission Speaks at American Corner on Tour of Western Georgia
On September 6-8, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Mark Perry, visited the regions of Samegrelo, Ajara, and Imereti to review U.S Government-funded projects and meet with local government and civil-society representatives.
During his tour, DCM Perry stopped at the Ameriacn Corner, Batumi, to speak about shared values between American and Georgian people with an audience of students and young adults. DCM Perry's presentation was followed by an animated discussion ranging from American values to the Global War on Terror and ways to establish peace in the Middle East. Ajara TV covered the DCM’s presentation at the Batumi American Corner in its evening primetime newscasts. In Batumi, DCM Perry also met with local media and NGO representatives to talk about free media, freedom of speech and the rule of law. The participants agreed with DCM Perry that all the above are indispensable components for civil society and crucial to the consolidation of democratic reforms in the Ajara Autonomous Republic and greater Georgia – especially in light of upcoming local elections.
As part of the tour, DCM Perry visited sights in Ajara and Imereti where the United States Government is implementing security and social welfare projects. DCM Perry toured the Sarpi border checkpoint in Ajara where the U.S. has helped install computer technology and fissile material detection capabilities to increase border security. The DCM also visited a shipyard near Batumi where the U.S. Government funding the rebuilding costal patrol vessels. In his final stop in Georgia's second largest city, Kutaisi, DCM Perry reviewed the USG-funded housing voucher program for internally displaced persons as well as road and bridge rehabilitation sites implemented under USAID’s Community Economic Development project in Odilauri (located outside of Kutaisi). |
