“By advancing our interests whilst taking account of the interests of the American people, we are ready to agree on a framework for strategic partnership. We are not speaking of conditions being imposed, neither on our side nor on theirs,” declared the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.
He added that the existing framework of strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States must be invested with genuine substance.
“We were one of the United States’ most distinguished strategic partners, something that has been affirmed on numerous occasions. Regrettably, the previous administration damaged those relations severely and reduced them to a level that is simply unacceptable to us. The new administration has the opportunity to put this right, and we are ready for that.
One of the benchmarks we have identified is the establishment of a new strategic partnership. The conversation between the U.S. Secretary of State and the Georgian Prime Minister signals that relations between our countries and governments have ascended to the highest political level. We expect that concrete answers will now be found as to what the partnership between Georgia and the United States should look like.
In April, we anticipate that the next steps will be directed towards a reset of relations. We are seeing an increase in visits of various levels and purposes in recent times. The goal is not simply to restore a strategic partnership, but to have a partnership between Georgia and America grounded in mutual interests.
A strategic partnership as a formal framework is not something we require merely for the sake of a title, as it has, in the past, often lacked substantive content. The strategic partnership was signed in 2009, after the August war. It was, in effect, a consolation prize for Mikheil Saakashvili following a lost war. It was never given the substance it ought to have had between genuine strategic partners. We propose that this serve as a comprehensive framework, filled with substantive content and rooted in the shared interests of both nations, clearly outlining our mutual expectations and the overarching objectives of this partnership. We are open to that dialogue.
The conversation between Marco Rubio and Irakli Kobakhidze shows that the new American administration is equally willing, which gives us cause for optimism. All of this has taken somewhat longer than one might have hoped, but we have seen various crises unfold in the interim. Better late than never. By prioritising our interests and considering the aspirations of the American people, we are prepared to establish a framework for a strategic partnership. We are not referring to any conditions on our side, nor have any conditions been imposed on theirs. That would be wholly at odds with the spirit we have shown and that the new American administration has also demonstrated, including through this telephone call,” said Papuashvili.
Turning to the question of Anaklia Port, the Speaker stressed that the port must operate in accordance with Georgia’s national interests.
“As regards Anaklia Port, what matters to us is that it functions as a component of the Middle Corridor, serving not only Georgia’s interests but regional ones as well, particularly in terms of connecting Europe and Asia. Our aim is for this port to be built and to operate in a manner that serves Georgia’s national interests. Under the agreement, Georgia, as a state, holds a majority stake. That is the principal guarantee. In strategic projects of this kind, Georgia must hold the advantage, and everything must proceed in accordance with our national interests,” said Papuashvili.
A journalist asked Papuashvili about his earlier remark in which he had suggested that America had no business in the Black Sea. The Speaker clarified that his comment had related specifically to American commercial interests.
“That was about something rather different, about whether there would be interest, and as it turned out, there wasn’t. Regrettably, we were unable to kindle that interest among American investors. The Georgian government made a concerted effort to engage not only investors but also the American administration, encouraging it to stimulate its own business sector to take an interest in Anaklia Port. That was precisely what the remark was about: the extent to which America had an interest in investing in the Black Sea. Let us see what interests they do have. Any investment that serves our national interests is welcome. Regrettably, until now, both publicly and behind closed doors, when the matter has been raised, there has been little interest,” said Papuashvili.
