You're reading: Georgian premier Ivanishvili expects US to help normalize relations with Russia

TBILISI - U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin discussed relations between Tbilisi and Moscow with Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili at a meeting at the Georgian State Chancellery behind closed doors, the prime ministerial press service reported on Tuesday. 

Ivanishvili said following the meeting that he hoped for the U.S. assistance in bringing Georgian-Russian relations back to normal.

“We also discussed our bilateral relations and expressed the hope for their expansion,” he said.

The prime minister noted that the past 20 years have shown that the U.S. is “a true partner for Georgia.”

“This was a warm and friendly meeting. I thanked Rubin for the assistance the U.S. is rendering us,” he said.

Ivanishvili said he was sure that the new Georgian authorities would do everything to further promote relations between Tbilisi and Washington.

Rubin arrived in Tbilisi on Tuesday and is yet to have meetings with Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze and National Security Council Secretary Giga Bokeria.

Rubin is also supposed to take part in a meeting of a taskforce for defense and security set up under a Georgian-U.S. Strategic Partnership Charter.