Ruling party Sec Gen expresses “readiness for cooperation” with US

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the ruling political team was “ready for cooperation” with the United States and added it expected “specific actions” for the purpose from the US.

We are ready for friendship, cooperation, and partnership. We expect specific steps to be taken [on the part of the United States]. The false campaign we have heard over the past months is categorically unacceptable”, Kaladze said in reference to criticisms of the controversial domestic law on transparency of foreign influence by the country’s western partners.

The ruling party official further claimed the concerns around the law were “just a fictional topic” as the “real problem and resentment” in the ties had been caused by the Government’s refusal to join Western sanctions on Russia.

We made this decision [not to impose sanctions on Russia] so as not to harm our country and our own citizens. We did not allow opening of a second front in the country [amid the ongoing war in Ukraine]”, he continued.

Kaladze added the development was the “real problem” for the relations with the United States, adding “everything will be settled, calmed down and stabilised” in the ties.