Georgian Parliament official: value-based diplomacy will play central role in improving ties between Georgia, US

Mariam Lashkhi, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Education, Science, and Youth Affairs Committee, on Friday expressed optimism that the agreement between the governing teams of Georgia and the United States could lead to a reboot in bilateral relations.

In her interview with Imedi TV, Lashkhi emphasised that value-based diplomacy would play a central role in improving ties between the two countries.

“First and foremost, value-based diplomacy will be the path that gives us hope for resetting relations with the United States. Additionally, it is important that when we talk about rebooting relations, one of the key components is maintaining diplomatic ties. The appointment of an ambassador by the US will be the first step toward revitalising these relations”, the Parliament official said.

The official further highlighted that the agreement between the two governments provided a foundation for cautious optimism, adding that Georgia remained committed to its core principles and values.

“From another perspective, when there is an agreement between the governing teams, this also gives hope. This is a hope rooted in caution, as we remain committed to our core principles and values and aim to reset relations based on specific facts and approaches. A period of 3-6 months would likely be a reasonable timeframe to strengthen relations and translate into concrete steps for strategic partnership, which our population should primarily evaluate”, she concluded.