TBILISI. Aug 12 (Interfax) - United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is paying a visit to Tbilisi, said she has not heard from Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze any proposals aimed at improving relations between the two countries.
The fact that the premier has not made any proposals about the things he and his administration would want to do to improve Georgia's relations with the U.S. is disappointing, Shaheen said at a press conference on Sunday.
At the meeting, the parties discussed a number of issues which U.S. finds concerning, including the Georgian side's statements about the U.S.'s alleged plans to stage a coup in Georgia, which is an absolute lie, she said.
Shaheen said she hopes that in the future, the authorities of Georgia would make steps necessary to continue improving relations U.S. and Georgia have had for 30 years.
Congressman Mike Turner, for his part, said at the press conference that he has not heard from Kobakhidze any statements indicating that his policy is aimed at resetting relations.
Shaheen also said that the parties discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia this October. The U.S. side would like to see these elections free and fair, she said.
It is in the U.S. interests that international observers could to come to Georgia, and that local observers could ensure that the elections are conducted properly, she said.
Shaheen mentioned that during her previous visit to Tbilisi as early as a year and a half ago she warned that the law on the transparency of foreign influence would have a negative impact on relations between U.S. and Georgia and this is what is happening now.
She said that she and Turner had requested a meeting with honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili, but he refused it, and it is disappointing.
On Saturday, the Georgian premier said following a meeting with Shaheen and Turner that Georgia is ready to reset relations with the U.S. in order to strengthen cooperation and bilateral ties.
"Had an engaging meeting with Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Mike Turner, where we discussed current Georgia-U.S. developments. I reiterated Georgia's readiness to restart and reload our relations and cooperation in order to strengthen bilateral ties," Kobakhidze wrote on a social network.
Shaheen and Turner had meetings with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Premier Kobakhidze and representatives of Georgian NGOs in Tbilisi.