Page 32 - GEORptDec21

Georgia signs MoU with US on 5G security
differentiation and inclusivity. It says the three states will work together with other interested partners and EU institutions in order to ensure that the Eastern Partnership develops a strategic forward-looking agenda and remains a strong and effective policy.
The three countries also pledge to cooperate with the European Union on common security and defence policy (CSDP), including on countering hybrid threats, strengthening cyber resilience, fighting disinformation, developing cooperation platforms with the EU’s relevant agencies and services, and to participate in CSDP missions and operations and bring contribution to the EU’s efforts towards peace in the world.
Touching upon the Black Sea security, the three states pledge to engage with Black Sea partners in order to “jointly promote the sustainable development of the region, as well as make full use of the opportunities that the Black Sea provides for wider and secure connectivity between Europe and Asia.”
Georgia and the US have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strengthening cooperation in fifth-generation (5G) wireless communications networks.
At the core of the MoU is a set of agreed good practices that the two sides should implement in the development of their 5G networks with a view to avoiding security risks. More specifically, the good practices are broadly interpreted as a way of banning Huawei and other companies controlled by Chinese government, defined as “malign actors”, and providing the necessary technology used by telecom operators to develop their 5G networks.
The US and Georgia emphasised a statement from the Prague 5G Security Conference – framing the “Prague Proposals” – as an important step towards developing a common approach to 5G network security, and ensuring a secure, resilient, and trustworthy 5G ecosystem. The Prague Proposals stress the need to develop, deploy, and commercialise 5G networks based on free and fair competition, transparency and the rule of law.
More specifically, under the MoU, Georgia agrees that in order to promote a vibrant and robust 5G ecosystem, “a rigorous evaluation of suppliers [of 5G hardware and software] should take into account the rule of law; the security environment; ethical supplier practices; and a supplier’s compliance with secure standards and industry best practices.”
Specifically, evaluations should be made as to whether network hardware and software suppliers are subject, without independent judicial review, to control by a foreign government.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that “the signing of the 5G memorandum and its successful implementation serves this very goal and will increase US companies’ interest in Georgia. Moreover, the launch of new and up-to-date technologies will contribute to Georgia’s sustainable economic development”.
By signing the memorandum, Georgia has joined the US Clean Network programme “safeguarding the nation’s assets including citizens’ privacy and companies’ most sensitive information from aggressive intrusions by malign actors”.
32 GEORGIA Country Report December 2021 www.intellinews.com