Georgian PM expresses readiness for “clean slate” strategic partnership with US

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday announced his Government's readiness to renew its strategic partnership with the United States “entirely from a clean slate”, despite past setbacks.

In his interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, Kobakhidze noted that if there was a healthy and fair attitude from the United States, nothing could stand in the way of rebooting relations.

He emphasized that the dismissal of Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, and the consent for the appointment of Georgian Ambassador Tamar Taliashvili took place on the same day, which in his opinion was a very important gesture.

“We are waiting not for an attempt to share some messages with us under blackmail, but for a healthy and fair attitude. If there is a healthy and fair attitude, I think that nothing can stand in the way of rebooting relations. We have made a very loud and strong statement”, the Prime Minister said.

“We have stated a simple thing, we have made the maximum declaration - the moment a step is taken, we are ready, entirely from a clean slate, despite so much having gone wrong, to renew the strategic partnership with the United States of America”, he continued.

Furthermore, he expressed readiness to undertake this renewal with a “specific roadmap” that reflects mutual benefit for both Georgia and the United States.

“You cannot make a louder statement than that. We are in a mode of expectation and hope that we will receive reciprocal steps”, Kobakhidze concluded.