Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister: “Georgia still not ready restore diplomatic ties with Russia”
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Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin claims Georgia is not ready to restore diplomatic ties with Russia after they were suspended following the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.
In an interview yesterday with Russia’s Ria Novosti, Karasin stressed the Government of Georgia "periodically addressed aggressive rhetoric to Russia that didn’t serve to strengthen positive relations between the two nations initiated by the current Georgian leadership.”
Over the last four years relations that were damaged by ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili have become healthier, under the current Georgian leadership. We [Russia and Georgia] have improved economic and transport ties [while] cultural and humanitarian relations are also progressing, but Georgia isn’t still ready to restore diplomatic ties with us,” Karasin said.
The Russian high official added he frequently mentioned the negative sides of "Georgia’s aggressive rhetoric to Russia” with Georgia’s Special Envoy to Russia Zurab Abashidze.
On another note, Karasin didn’t exclude re-establishing a visa-free travel regime with Georgia but he said the process would be complicated when the two countries had no diplomatic relations.
Georgia's Special Envoy to Russia Zurab Abashidze said it was up to Russia to make a decision about simplifying the visa regime with Georgia.
Meanwhile in response to Karasin's statement, Abashidze said diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia could only be restored when "there is tangible progress” regarding Georgia’s two breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), now occupied by Russia.
Currently restoration of diplomatic relations isn’t on the agenda. This could happen when Georgia sees Russia’s attitude change towards the regions,” Abashidze said.
When it came to visas, Abashidze said at the beginning of the year Russia simplified issuing of visas for Georgian citizens and the number of issued visas "has significantly increased”.
"We can’t force Russia to more simplify or remove visa travel, it’s completely up to them to decide,” Abashidze said.
Russia believes the "unfriendly statements” voiced by Georgian officials about Russia contradict the efforts to restore constructive relations between the two neighbouring nations.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister said Moscow disliked the "increasing anti-Russian rhetoric in Tbilisi” and the Kremlin’s patience "has limits too”. Georgia's Prime Minister said Georgia’s territorial integrity was the only principle which normalized relations between Georgia and Russia could be built on.
A Kremlin proposed new treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ between Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and Russia will not be reconsidered,Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister GrigoryKarasinsaid after bilateral talks led by Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Russiain Prague today.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that it is not holding any negotiations with Russia’s official state bodies over visa-related issues. As a reason the Georgian Ministry said that two countries have no diplomatic relations.
Georgia’s Special Envoy to Russia Zurab Abashidze says Russian tourists visiting Georgia should abide by the country’s laws, particularly the Law on Occupied Territories, to avoid problems while visiting.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York today. The meeting, which is the first since Georgia suspended its diplomatic ties with Russia following the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, was "initiated and facilitated" by Switzerland.