Georgia and US are holding intensified discussions on strategic partnership, PM Kobakhidze

Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, on Friday claimed communication with American partners had intensified in recent weeks, including direct contact with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Kobakhidze said he had personally held a telephone conversation with Rubio and that further communication and discussions on specific issues were planned.

“We are focused on this process,” he said.

The official further added that the Georgian government had expressed a “clear readiness” to discuss all outstanding issues with the United States and to work towards renewing the countries’ strategic partnership through what he described as a “specific roadmap”.

“There is a preliminary understanding that, by the end of May, we should discuss concrete details within a specific format,” he said. “We are awaiting these discussions with interest.”

The PM said the restoration of a strategic partnership with the United States would be the main indicator of what he described as a qualitative improvement in bilateral relations.

“We hope to discuss every detail in a constructive manner, which should later become the foundation for renewing the strategic partnership,” Kobakhidze said.