Kobakhidze: Georgia believes relations with the US can be restored

Tbilisi is ready to restore relations with the United States, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at a press conference.

Report quotes him as saying detailed discussions will take place during the upcoming visit of Peter Andreoli, a representative of the US State Department.

The prime minister noted that several recent contacts had taken place with Washington, and said those exchanges had strengthened Tbilisi's optimism.

"We have had several contacts with officials, including Marco Rubio, and all of this reinforces our belief that restoring Georgian-American relations is possible," Kobakhidze said.

According to the premier, the Georgian authorities are prepared to restore strategic partnership with the United States and are proposing cooperation "from a clean slate" in this direction.

"We have stated from the very beginning that we are ready to restore the strategic partnership, which was suspended during the previous US administration, on the basis of a concrete roadmap," he stressed.

Kobakhidze added that the Georgian side is closely monitoring the position and interests of the current US administration. He said that during Andreoli"s visit to Georgia, the sides would hold detailed discussions.

The prime minister also said that the authorities feel strong support from Georgian society and highly value the "positive trends" currently observed in relations with the United States.