Karasin, Abashidze announces no deal on Russia-Abkhazia’s new treaty
Tweet 
Share
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 Grigory Karasinsaid after bilateral talks led by Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Russia in Prague today.
The Prague talks did not produce a deal under which Russia would reconsider the proposed new treaty with Abkhazia, which envisaged setting up a joint Russian-Abkhaz group of forces for collective defence.
"We had radically different visions and radically different estimations. On my side I explained what risks are associated with that possible treaty and what kind of difficulties it could create for the dialogue we have launched,” Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze said after the meeting.
Abashidze believed Russia’s action to sign the treaty with Abkhazia would be considered in Tbilisi as "Moscow’s official action to step towards the annexation of Abkhazia.”
"I mentioned that the special legal conclusions will be made and [we will] spare no efforts to implement the international community in these processes,” Abashidze said.
Meanwhile a Russian diplomat challenged Tbilisi’s official position about the possible treaty being a step against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. Karasin believed the "document did not abuse the status and sovereignty of Abkhazia”.
"My Georgian colleague asked with strict form questionabout the Russia-Abkhazia project. This issue is not the subject of our dialogue. I listened to his logic and on my side I explained to him our position properly,” Karasintold Georgian journalists.
"After the recent Presidential Election in Abkhazia, the new authority came into power and depending on their interests, we will sign the new treaty.”
Karasin believed the treaty aimed to ease cooperation and integration with Abkhazia in a variety of sectors including defence.
"This is not a threat for Abkhazia and annexation. Russia’s relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia (another of Georgia’s breakaway regions) will not be the subject of reconsideration,” he said.
"We [Russia] recognise both countries and [will] develop relations with them.” Russia recongised the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) in 2008 after the Russia-Georgia war in August.
No date for next round of Prague talks Calling off the next round of Prague Dialogue Today’s meeting between Russia’s Karasin and Georgia’s Abashidze ended on a civil note but it was the first time since the dialogue started that a date for the next round of talks was not set.
Informal bilateral dialogue betweenKarasin and Abashidzelaunched in late 2012 and covered mainly trade and economic related issues.
Abashidze believed Georgian authorities must now decide whether to call off the next dialogue.
"But my personal opinion is that we need to think long and hard before we call off the format and say that it is no longer necessary. It is very simple to refuse; only one call is required.If this happenswe need some new form of direct dialogue with Russia again,” Abashidze said.
International community supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland while commenting the issue of Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia in Batumi.
A Kremlin proposed treaty on to enhance the relationship between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia has been condemned by Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili.
Georgian authorities condemned the proposed treaty believed such an agreement was a "violation” of the fundamental principles of international law and commitment.
A Kremlin proposed new treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and Russia will be signed by the end of this year, Abkhazia’s de-facto leader Raul Khajimba announced.
"This document contradicts Abkhazians' 25 year struggle for self-determination, recognition and so-called independence,” says Georgia's Prime Minister about a Kremlin proposed new treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia.
"Nobody has a right and ability to prevent Russia and Abkhazia from bringing their ties to a new level,” reads a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry as its official comment after the Georgia-Russia meeting in Prague.
The de facto president of Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region is unhappy with a number of paragraphs in the Kremlin proposed ‘Alliance and Integration’ treaty, which aims to bring Russia and Abkhazia closer together.
Polish officials have reiterated their country’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and say Poland will ratify Georgia’s Association Agreement (AA) in the near future.
Special representative of Georgia’s Prime Minister for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze believes Georgian-Russian informal dialogue is the only communication channel with Russia and it should continue.
Forging and strengthening international contacts is the best force against the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty signed between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia, says the Georgian Prime Minister’s special representative for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze.
A Russian high official believes the process to normalise relations between Georgia and Russia is continuing as normal, despite Georgia and much of the international community condemning Russia’s deal with Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would be happy to host a Georgian Government delegation if they visited his nation.
Russia is making moves to remove its border with Abkhazia – one of Georgia’s two breakaway regions.
Georgian Prime Minister’s special representative for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin are set to meet in Prague today to discuss a trade agreement signed between Georgia and Russia in Geneva in 2011.
Exports and shipping will increase to Russia, says diplomats
Georgia’s Special Representative to Russia Zurab Abashidze met with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in Prague, Czech Republic yesterday.
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.
Russia believes the "unfriendly statements” voiced by Georgian officials about Russia contradict the efforts to restore constructive relations between the two neighbouring nations.
Special envoys representing Georgia and Russia met today in Prague, Czech Republic, for the latest round of talks between the two nations.
In an interview with Russia’s Ria Novosti, Girgory Karasin said the Georgian Government "periodically addressed aggressive rhetoric to Russia that didn’t serve to strengthen positive relations between the two nations."
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).
The Georgian Prime Minister’s special representative for relations with Russia says that if it were not for the Abashidze-Karasin meeting format, visa-free travel to the European Union for Georgian citizens would have been much longer in the coming.