Foreign ministry to "monitor process in Ukraine" before deciding on date for ambassador's return

The Georgian Foreign Ministry will "monitor steps taken by the Ukrainian government" in deciding when Georgia's ambassador to the country will return to his diplomatic office.

The ministry said on Monday it would follow "the process in Ukraine" and monitor steps taken by Ukraine in terms of "normalising relations with Georgia" in the near future before making a decision on Teimuraz Sharashenidze's resumption of his work in Kiyv.

The ambassador was at the ministry earlier today to take part in a discussion on relations between the two countries.

The foreign office called the consultations after the appointment of Georgia's former president Mikheil Saakashvili - sought by the country's law enforcement - as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.

Recalled on May 8, Sharashenidze spent a mandatory two-week period in quarantine after arriving in Tbilisi before meeting ministry officials at the office.

The ambassador was recalled after Saakashvili's appointment, which the ministry called "not appropriate to the spirit of cooperation" between the two states.

The foreign office confirmed Georgia would maintain relations on strategic issues with Ukraine including the ongoing Russian occupation of parts of both states and their aspirations for NATO and European Union membership.