TBILISI: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will visit ex-Soviet Georgia this week, the Georgian foreign ministry said Monday, insisting the visit would not strain Tbilisi’s ties with Washington.
Mottaki will visit Georgia on Wednesday and Thursday, meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, and sign a deal to lift visa requirements between the two countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze told journalists.
He will also inaugurate an Iranian consulate in Georgia’s Black Sea resort of Batumi, an increasingly popular destination for Iranian tourists.
Iran has sought in recent years to boost ties with nearby Georgia, a staunch US ally, but analysts have warned that warming relations could raise concerns in Washington.
Kalandadze denied the visit would cause concern in Washington.
"We do nothing that could harm our relations with the United States," Kalandadze said.
"I do not see here anything that might irritate any of our partners. Georgia and the United States are strategic partners and we take this fact into consideration in our relations with third countries."
She said Georgia "simply wants good relations" with all countries in its region, including Iran.
"We want our trade turnover with Iran and the number of the Iranian tourists in Georgia to increase. This is why we are signing a visa-free travel agreement with Iran, something we have with many other countries," Kalandadze said.
