Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgia Signals 'Readiness to Reset' Relations During High-Level U.S. Meeting
Georgian Dream Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia met with senior U.S. State Department official Brendan Hanrahan on Tuesday to discuss a potential "reset" of the strategic partnership between the two nations.
The meeting, held at the Department of State, was attended by Georgia's Ambassador Tamar Taliashvili and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter. According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the delegation used the working visit to emphasize its commitment to stabilizing bilateral ties.
"The Georgian side once again underscored its readiness to reset relations with the United States and emphasized the importance of renewing the strategic partnership," the Ministry's official press release stated.
The discussions also covered regional security developments and future prospects for cooperation. Georgian officials reported that the U.S. side reaffirmed its unconditional support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While the Georgian government characterized the talks as a step toward reconciliation, the U.S. State Department did not issue an official report or statement regarding the meeting.
Kirtskhalia Slams Sweden Over 'Moscow Mechanism' Probe
Irakli Kirtskhalia, the parliamentary leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, launched a scathing attack on Sweden on Tuesday, accusing the nation of gross interference in Georgia's internal affairs while struggling with its own "objectively concerning" domestic crises.
The assault follows Sweden's decision, alongside 23 other OSCE member states, to invoke the Moscow Mechanism on January 29. The move establishes an independent expert mission to investigate human rights concerns in Georgia. Kirtskhalia dismissed the probe as a tool used by foreign nations "to punish undesirable political opponents," arguing that rights are better protected in Georgia than in the countries demanding the investigation.
Kirtskhalia specifically targeted Sweden after reports emerged that its Moderate Youth Party awarded a Freedom Prize to Georgian anti-government demonstrators. He described the award as an endorsement of "violent radicals" and an unfriendly act against Georgian sovereignty. Turning his focus to Sweden's domestic issues, he cited "facts and statistics" to claim the country is plagued by rising crime and economic failure.
"We are concerned that discriminatory and hate-motivated crimes increased sharply in Sweden," Kirtskhalia said, adding that the country is facing "organized crime, gang shootings, and explosions."
The critique extended to the Swedish economy, which Kirtskhalia described as being in a state of stagnation due to high inflation and rising debt. He even touched on social services, claiming Swedish citizens "endure long waiting times" for medical treatment.
"I urge you not to spend time worrying about problems that do not exist in Georgia and instead focus on addressing your own challenges," he told the assembly.
