Georgian PM: ruling party founder stated “very clearly” reasons for declining to meet visiting US officials

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday said Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, had “very clearly” stated the reasons for declining to meet the United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Mike Turner visiting the country.

As for the extent to which these reasons can become public, it depends on Ivanishvili, on our US partners. If it is on the agenda to make it public, the relevant parties will make a decision about it”, Kobakhidze responded to a question of journalists regarding Ivanishvili’s refusal to meet the visiting US officials and also, James O’Brien, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, who had visited the country in May.

The PM noted the reasons had been directly explained to “our US partners”, adding “it is up to Ivanishvili and the US officials to decide whether this information becomes public or not”.