Karasin says Russia concerned by Georgia-NATO relations and modern Vaziani base
Tweet 
Share
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has told TASS news agency that his country is concerned by the "activation of NATO and the United States in Georgia.”
We also see the transformation of Vaziani into a fairly modern training center for the regular armed forces of Georgia,” Karasin said and added that not only Russia but also the leadership of Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions also see threats in Georgia’s military intentions.
As for the possible entry of Georgia into NATO, let us not look ahead and remain optimistic,” Karasin said.
The Russian official, who holds regular meetings on trade-economic issues with the Georgian Special Envoy to Russia Zurab Abashidze, says that the two countries enjoy better economic ties than earlier.
Karasin stated that last year, mutual trade grew by 34 percent and Russia became Georgia’s second largest trading partner.
We buy two-thirds of the Georgian wine products and sell them on the Russian market,” Karasin said.
The Russian diplomat also spoke about the expansion of the Larsi checkpoint, at the Russia-Georgia border, and stated that the expansion will simplify traffic procedures.
He also said that in 2017 1.4 million Russian tourists visited Georgia.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin admits Russia-Georgia relations have improved in recent years but says Russia will not withdraw its recognition of Georgia’s de-facto regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
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.
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 is a sovereign country with a sovereign foreign policy, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said in response to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin’s recent comments about Georgia-NATO relations.
The US Heritage Foundation has hosted the event -10 Years after the Bucharest Summit: Strengthening the U.S.-NATO-Georgia Relationship.
The Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze believes that Russia’s revanchist foreign policy is the major challenge to regional security."Russia’s actions in the region, especially in the last decade, have triggered a powerful earthquake that has seriously shaken the credibility of the international system and threatened the very foundations of the European security architecture."
The next regular working meeting between the Georgian PM’s special representative for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and the Russian deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin will be held on May 24 in Prague.
The agreement signed by Georgia and Russia in 2011 envisages setting up of a mechanism of customs administration and the monitoring of regional trade by third parties.
Maria Zakharova, head of the press office of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated today that NATO-Georgia drills nourish a militarist mood, referring to the Noble Partner multinational exercise being conducted near Tbilisi.