U.S. diplomat assesses Georgian-Iranian relations

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Bass said relations between Tbilisi and Tehran are being discussed in an on-going dialogue between the U.S. and Georgia which takes into account that Iran and Georgia are located in the same neighbourhood.

"It is good that Tbilisi allows Iranians to enjoy a visa free regime and that they are able to visit Georgia and see what happens in the neighbouring democratic state," John Bass said at the Atlantic Council meeting in Washington on June 13, Georgian media reported.

However Bass added that Washington does not want Georgia to be the place where Iranian companies would be able to avoid international sanctions.

"It is, of course, the topic of discussion at various levels between the two governments (the U.S. and Georgia)," Bass said, when asked about Georgian-Iranian relations.

"I would say that this is happening in the context of understanding that Georgia is located in the South Caucasus, Iran is in the neighbourhood, and it is necessary for the two countries to have relationships, as happens in any region. It is good that Georgia make it possible for Iranians to visit Georgia and see what happens in a neighbouring democratic state," the U.S. ambassador said.

"At the same time however, taking into account that the Iranians know their way about looking for opportunities to avoid penalties and taking into account the fact that we believe that effective sanctions are the reason why Iran returns to the negotiation table, of course we do not want to see a situation in which Georgia, even unintentionally, will be a place where the Iranians or Iranian companies will be able to avoid these sanctions," he added.


/Trend/