Shalva Papuashvili on Robin Dunnigan’s Statement: It’s clear to everyone who resigned prematurely between the two of us – commenting on the statements of a resigned ambassador is not in our interest

"The interview of the resigned ambassador is being disseminated by 'Radio Free Europe,' which was exposed as a propaganda outlet by President Trump – neither one nor the other is of interest to us! Let me remind you that at one time, 'Radio Free Europe' was created by the Central Intelligence Agency and was secretly funded from its budget," said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, responding to a question regarding statements made by U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan in an exclusive interview with "Radio Free Europe."

In response to the journalist’s question, Papuashvili repeatedly emphasized that commenting on the statements of a resigned ambassador is pointless and of no interest.

"The propaganda media has been exposed by Trump himself and its funding has been cut off. His desire is to shut down 'Radio Free Europe' entirely as a propaganda tool. Let me remind you that at one time, 'Radio Free Europe' was created by the Central Intelligence Agency and was secretly funded from its budget. Later, certain other schemes were arranged, but it is officially a propaganda outlet. I cannot make excessive comments on the resigned ambassador’s interview disseminated by them!

It’s clear to everyone who resigned prematurely between the two of us – as they say, everything is clear. Commenting on the statements of a resigned ambassador is not in our interest," Papuashvili stated.

In her interview with "Radio Free Europe," Robin Dunnigan stated that the private letter from the "Georgian Dream" leadership to the Trump administration was threatening, offensive, unserious, and extremely poorly received in Washington.

Dunnigan told "Radio Free Europe" that she wanted to meet Bidzina Ivanishvili in person because she had a response from Secretary of State Rubio regarding the letter from the "Georgian Dream" leadership.

"The 'Georgian Dream' leadership sent me a private letter for the Trump administration. It is not a public letter, which, frankly, was threatening, offensive, unserious, and was extremely poorly received in Washington. Extremely poorly… Therefore, we needed some time to think about a response. That’s true. I think we needed time because people were very surprised that one country would send such a letter to my country," the American diplomat stated.

She also discussed how negotiations for a meeting with Ivanishvili unfolded, which the embassy was denied.

"While we were thinking about a response, the Prime Minister published an open letter. Then I went to the Prime Minister and told him that I had a response from Secretary of State Rubio, who asked me to convey it to Bidzina Ivanishvili. Bidzina Ivanishvili refused," the ambassador noted.

Robin Dunnigan also stated that she would "gladly meet with the Prime Minister at any time," although she "did not separately request a meeting with him."

In response to a follow-up question from "Radio Free Europe" about whether Dunnigan had asked Washington why the message should be conveyed to Bidzina Ivanishvili and not Irakli Kobakhidze, the ambassador stated: "I think the majority of people in the world know that the government is run by Bidzina Ivanishvili."