Georgian FM: strategic partnership with US should begin ‘with clean slate’

Georgia is ready to continue political dialogue with the United States and begin a new stage of strategic partnership “with a clean slate”, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili has said.

Speaking to Imedi TV, Botchorishvili said that during her first meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires Amy Diaz following her appointment, the sides discussed the agenda of Georgia-US relations and prospects for future cooperation.

The Minister said positive signs have emerged in recent months regarding the improvement of bilateral ties, alongside steps taken by Washington that have allowed the Georgian side to present its positions.

“There have been positive signs in recent months in terms of restoring our relations. We have repeatedly stated our position on what we expect from relations with the United States. Our desire is for these relations to be based on mutual respect, to be healthy, and for the strategic partnership to be filled with meaningful content,” Botchorishvili said.

She said both sides agree that discussions on the strategic partnership should start “with a clean slate” and that the relationship should be built around specific areas of cooperation.

“Both sides share the view that we should start talking about strategic partnership with a clean slate. We also believe, and this is something we share with the US side, that our strategic partnership should be filled with concrete substance. How and what that substance will be is a matter for diplomatic work and political dialogue,” Botchorishvili said.

The Minister added that Georgia is fully prepared to continue political dialogue with the United States and expects the same readiness from Washington.