EU, OSCE, UN welcome the 1st meeting of Georgian-Russian FMs since 2008
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EU, OSCE and the UN top officials have welcomed the recent meeting between Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers David Zalkaliani and Sergey Lavrov which was the first high-level meeting of top officials from the two countries after the suspension of diplomatic ties back in 2008, due to the Russia-Georgia war.
Statements released by the EU, OSCE and the UN saw the meeting as the possibility of a constructive dialogue and to ease tension in the relations of the two countries.
The meeting was an important opportunity to discuss regional security issues, to lower tensions in Georgia-Russia relations, and to address the impact of these tensions on citizens. Dialogue is key for peaceful dispute settlement, which the European Union fully supports,” the EU office for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said.
Today’s meeting between the Foreign Ministers of #Georgia & #Russia, facilitated by Swiss mediators, is important: It shows there is hope that constructive #dialogue can decrease tensions and strengthen stability to the benefit of all people in the @OSCE region.
— Miroslav Lajčák (@MiroslavLajcak) September 26, 2019
The statement by the EU says that it is important that all actors engage constructively to alleviate the situation of the conflict-affected population in Georgia.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, stated that he welcomed the meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday, between Georgian and Russian foreign ministers.
OSCE Chairman Miroslav Lajcak tweeted that the meeting “shows there is hope that constructive dialogue can decrease tensions.”
Zalkaliani said that the meeting with Lavrov should not be considered as the change of existing format of negotiations with Russia.
He stated that he raised “all the issues” which concerns Georgia at the meeting.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that yesterday’s meeting between Georgian and Russian foreign ministers was welcomed and accepted by Georgia’s international partners.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that the recent meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov should not be considered as the change of existing format of negotiations with Russia.
Officials and politicians in Georgia have assessed the recent meeting of the Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers in New York, which is the first since Georgia suspended its diplomatic ties with Russia following the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.
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.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that he would resume direct flights with Georgia, which were suspended in July 2019, as a majority of Georgians ‘have seen the negative sides’ of the ‘provocation staged’ in the Georgian parliament on June 20.He said that the Georgian opposition deliberately sparked unrest in the Georgian parliament after the address of Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov from the seat of the Georgian parliament speaker that day.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met with the United States Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York yesterday that at the recent meeting with his Georgian counterpart David Zalkaliani the issue of re-launching flights to Georgia was also raised.
Russian airline Pobeda has asked the Ministry of Transport of Russia to clarify deadlines on when they will receive compensation for the financial loss the company has experienced due to the Russian-initiated suspension of direct flights to Georgia in July, Ekho Kavkaza reports.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that direct flights with Russia, which was banned by the Russian government starting from July 8, should be resumed as the flights are important for people-to-people and humanitarian relations.