Sergey Lavrov: ‘Russia can change nothing with Georgia.’

Russia claims it is doing its best to improve relationships between Georgian and Russian people but says it cant move forward because of a staunch Georgian Government.

But a Georgian leader fired back a response and said the country wanted to recover relations with the domineering nation but would not back down to Russian pressure.

Russias Foreign Minister said Georgian leaders needed to realize and accept the situation before the two countries could move forward mutually.

"Non-recognition of realisms by the Georgian Government, that developed in the region after August War, impedes development of the relations of Moscow and Tbilisi, declared Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press conference today, January 21.

He said the main problem was that the Russian Government could not change the environment developed after the war, although the country did its best to improve relationships between Russian and Georgian people.

"Neither formal problems nor the nonexistence of diplomatic relations is a major problem between us (Russia and Georgia). Actually, our problem is that Russia is able to change nothing after the war launched by Saakashvili. And periodically it will break our relationships, Sergey Lavrov stated.

However the Russian leader mentioned that they appreciated Georgias aspiration to assist in security issues of the Olympic Games in Sochi.

During the press conference, the Russian Foreign Minister also emphasized that last year more than 40% more Russian visas were issued to the Georgian citizens than in 2012 and this was an example of a positive bilateral relationship.

"We are ready for close affairs with Georgia, but only after Georgia considers the current reality that has been created after the August War.

Meanwhile the Georgian Government was not surprised by Lavrovs statement.

Georgias Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said that her Russian counterparts position was not unpredictable for her.

"Currently 20% of Georgian territory is occupied and Russia has recognized both Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries, Panjikidze said.

"Georgia will never adapt to this reality. We will do our best with the whole world to improve the current situation. As for Georgian and Russian relationships improvement, it does not depend only on Russian position but it depends on international standards.