Georgian FM says MEGOBARI Act “off the table” in Georgia-US relations

A “reboot” in relations between Georgia and the United States is underway, though the political landscape remains largely empty, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili said on Sunday in an interview with Imedi TV.

Botchorishvili noted that recent messages coming from Washington were expected to help define the framework for future Georgia-US relations, pointing out that developments in the US Congress surrounding the so-called MEGOBARI Act was demonstrating that no one in Washington was interested in pushing Georgia away from its Western trajectory.

"We can also evaluate the behaviour of certain Georgian politicians. I would call it an act of betrayal against their own country when they travel abroad and lobby for provisions harmful to Georgia to be included in such legislation. There’s no other name for it but hostility when you pay money to harm your own country”, the FM said.

She further emphasised that the United States itself does not see the MEGOBARI Act as a foundation for future relations with Georgia.

“That’s why the process was steered in such a way that the so-called MEGOBARI Act is no longer on the agenda or under discussion. As for the future framework of cooperation, our position and proposals remain public and unchanged - we seek a strategic partnership with the United States that has real substance. This requires dialogue”, she concluded.