PM believes relations between Georgia and US will  “improve qualitatively” from beginning of next year

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said he believed relations between Georgia and the United States would begin to “improve qualitatively” from the beginning of the next year.

In his comments to the domestic media, Kobakhidze emphasised  his Government desired to deepen relations with the US “as much as possible”, and there was “absolute openness” from Gov't in this direction, adding “[...] the main thing is to see counter steps and we are still [...] waiting for these steps [from the US]”, he added.

The PM also highlighted his meeting on Friday with Uzra Zeya, the US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, who was on an official visit to Georgia, saying he didn't hear from the US official a “single specific” point about “what anti-democratic changes have been implemented” in Georgia over the recent period. 

"We had a very interesting, friendly meeting yesterday. We discussed all the issues. I didn't hear a single specific point about what anti-democratic changes have been implemented in Georgia in the recent period. I had questions about the law on transparency of foreign influence [adopted by the Parliament in May, which sparked public protests and criticism by the country’s foreign partners]. Here, once again, there was a general assessment, without any argumentation, without any specifics. I asked her to provide particular comments regarding this law in the future, otherwise, we will find it difficult to respond to general comments”, Kobakhidze said.

He also responded to last week's decisions of the United States and the EU to freeze defence financial support for the country, saying such decisions were “regrettable” and not “favourable for healthy” relationships between Georgia and its international partners.

Kobakhidze also answered a question about the bill known as MEGOBARI - Act adopted on Thursday by the US Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee, which reaffirms the US’s “commitment to supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and countering the influence of authoritarian regimes, particularly Russia”, and involves the imposition of sanctions and travel bans on “individuals undermining democracy in Georgia”, saying “such steps will not contribute to restarting” the relations between the two countries.