Disappointment should have been asked from us when we couldn't find an American company that would be interested in the Anaklia port.

Such an attitude is a bit strange — neither wanting it for yourself nor for others, it's roughly like that," said the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, in response to the statement by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen regarding the Anaklia port.

As the Chairman of Parliament noted, an open tender was held where anyone could participate. He stated that, unfortunately, American companies did not show any interest.

"No one prohibited American or other companies from participating. Last year, an open international tender was held where anyone could participate. The selection was made from those who participated. So, if American senators, I mean, representatives of the general party, have any truth regarding their participation, it’s the fact that the administration, the previous administration, was not engaged in spending money in Georgia, organizing revolutions, and that money and energy were directed towards economic cooperation and such projects. Who knows, maybe today American companies would have been interested. This is exactly what I was saying, that unfortunately, the strategic partnership with the U.S. has not been given substance. For years, we have been trying to have a free trade agreement, as well as visa-free travel and direct flights, which would encourage economic relations. Furthermore, there have been several discussions that, since we are not a large economy, with political will, it would be very easy to encourage economic relations and American investments in Georgia. Unfortunately, instead of these steps, the previous administration was engaged in chaos and financing revolutions, funding some absurd ideologies and LGBT propaganda. Senator Shaheen's party, the previous administration, spent the American people's money and energy on this. Ultimately, now we hear some mixed words of reproach for the ruined situation, which is the fault of Shaheen and the previous administration," stated Shalva Papuashvili.

For reference, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed disappointment over the fact that the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project is planned to be implemented with Chinese investment.

"Georgia has canceled the contract with Western firms related to the port. Recent reports indicate that the project is set to be handed over to a Chinese company, which is located on the Black Sea. This is an issue that Senator Risch and I have worked hard on to move Georgia forward, and it is deeply disappointing to see this opportunity slip away," the senator said.