What does Georgian Gov’t think of proposed Russia-Georgia-German dialogue?

An ex-government member and current opposition political party leader has proposed a new format of dialogue involving Germany to resolve the ongoing Russia-Georgia conflict, but what does the country’s leadership think?

Free Democrats leader and former Minister of Defence of Georgia Irakli Alasania, raised the idea of a new format of discussions involving Germany as a way to settle Russia-Georgia political 

complications. Alasania said a Russia-Georgia-Germany format of talks could play a positive role in settling ongoing disagreements between the two nations that were at war in 2008.

Germany is a country that can play a constructive role in the settlement of the Russia-Georgia conflict,” Alasania said, as Germany had more positive relations with Russia and could act as a mediator in the discussions.

He said efforts to develop this type of dialogue had been launched in the Government by Georgia’s former Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, who is Alasania’s sister-in-law, but the process has been delayed since Panjikidze’s resignation in November last year.

In response to Alasania’s idea, current Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikahsvili said he had nothing against this type of dialogue but this was the first he had heard about such talks.

I know nothing about concrete steps or about any opinion expressed in this regard by representatives of German business communities,” he said. 

Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgi Kvirikashvili siad he welcomed any constructive role in Russian-Georgian relations. Photo by the Foreign Ministry of Georgia. 

The current format with Russia will make it possible to achieve progress providing there is political will from Russia,” he added.

Germany is a very important country. Generally its involvement in Georgia’s European integration process is of paramount importance and we would welcome any constructive role, which any third party could play in this process, if this can impact political decisions first of all in Moscow,” Kvirikashvili said. 

Currently Georgia interacts with Russia through two formats. One is the Geneva International Discussions which cover political issues and bilateral relations, and the other is the talks between Georgia’s Special Representative to Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin. The two special envoys meet at least twice a year to discuss mainly trade and economic relations.