Georgian PM assesses Anaklia port debate as “speculation”, questions lack of US bids

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday strongly criticised recent statements concerning the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project.

Speaking to journalists in Batumi, the Prime Minister stated that the comments being made were “very hard to assess”.

Kobakhidze responded to the remarks by US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who called the transfer of the Anaklia Port project to a Chinese company a “major disappointment”.

Kobakhidze recalled that the Anaklia project was initially in the hands of a specific consortium led by Mamuka Khazaradze, who is now an opposition politician.

He asserted that this consortium had “every chance” to attract American investment but failed to do so, resulting in “zero” investment.

“The statements we are hearing about Anaklia are extremely troubling. The project was initially in the hands of a specific consortium led by today’s so-called politician, Mamuka Khazaradze. He had every opportunity to attract American investment - but achieved nothing. Why was that? Either he was unable to bring in investors, or American companies were simply not interested”, the PM said.

“Why didn’t any American companies apply then? If you are American and you disapprove of a Chinese company's involvement in such a project, you should have submitted a bid yourself. All of this is empty speculation”, he continued.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister commented on statements made by US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, labeling her “another employee of the deep state” and suggesting this was the reason behind her critical remarks.