Georgia
Georgia aims to 'reset' relations with U.S. after Washington pauses aid
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday proposed a “reset” to mend relations with the United States, Interpress news agency reported, after Washington paused more than $95 million in aid over concerns about democratic backsliding.
Georgia was plunged into crisis this spring over the passage of a law on “foreign agents,” which came into force on Thursday.
Opposition politicians and the West say the law, which requires organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence”, is authoritarian and will stifle dissent.
“As for Georgian-American relations – we are in a waiting mode. We are fully prepared to reset relationships,” Interpress quoted Kobakhidze as saying.
“You know that in the last three to four years, a lot has gone wrong in these relationships, so the relationship needs a reset. We are absolutely ready for it, the main thing is to see the next steps,” he added.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says the “foreign agents” law is necessary to protect national sovereignty.
The pause on U.S. assistance, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday, is the result of a review of bilateral cooperation that was unveiled in May, along with visa restrictions against some Georgian nationals.
“The Georgian government’s anti-democratic actions and false statements are incompatible with membership norms in the EU and NATO,” Blinken said, adding that Washington would continue to provide some assistance to Georgia, which has historically strong ties to the West.
Kobakhidze on Thursday reiterated government assertions that such restrictions amounted to “blackmail” and discussing additional sanctions against Georgia was “counterproductive”.
“Instead of blackmailing and threatening, we should have a healthy conversation about improving relations, restarting them,” Kobakhidze said.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; editing by Giles Elgood)
Gulfstream recently announced a $5 million investment in Georgia education, welcoming students and leaders to its Savannah headquarters.
ATHENS, Ga. – Designated hitter Daniel Jackson and centerfielder Rylan Lujo combined for nine RBI Sunday, leading fifth-ranked Georgia to a 12-1 win over LSU at Foley Field.
Georgia improved to 41-11 overall, 21-6 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 29-24 overall and 9-18 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday when they play host to Florida in Game 1 of a three-game SEC series in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
“Georgia won the moments in this series,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “They’re going to score, so you’ve got to capitalize against them when you have scoring opportunities on offense.”
Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki (8-0) was the winner, limiting LSU to one run on four hits in 5.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
LSU right-hander Casan Evans (2-3), making his first appearance since April 17 versus Texas A&M, started the game Sunday and was charged with the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“I thought Casan’s stuff looked great, and that’s good for him from a health standpoint,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that the more he pitches, the better he is, so there might have been a little bit of rust, but I thought he competed fine.”
Georgia struck for four runs in the bottom of the second inning in an outburst highlighted by Jackson’s two-out, two-run single and an RBI single by second baseman Ryan Black.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 4-1 in the third when designated hitter Omar Serna Jr. delivered an RBI single.
Georgia extended its lead to 7-1 in the fourth as Jackson launched a two-run homer and centerfielder Lujo lined a run-scoring single.
Lujo unloaded a grand slam in the fifth, giving the Bulldogs an 11-1 advantage.
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