The restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia is impossible as long as the territorial integrity of Georgia is violated, said the special envoy of the Georgian Premier on settlement of relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze.
TBILISI, 26 Jan. The special representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia on settlement of relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze said that the issue of restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia at this stage in the agenda is not necessary, however, to the abolition of the visa regime between the countries it doesn’t interfere.
Earlier Tuesday, Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is ready to go on the abolition of visas with Georgia, but this issue is strange to discuss, as long as the countries do not have diplomatic relations.
“The restoration of diplomatic relations is not on the agenda. And at this stage won’t stand up, our Russian colleagues well know why… the Restoration of diplomatic relations is impossible as long as the territorial integrity of Georgia is violated, but if there are very serious steps forward in this direction, if we see that there is a very important progress, then, probably, at some point this issue will be on the agenda. As for the abolition or simplification of visa regime, diplomatic relations did not interfere,” — said Abashidze reporters.
Tbilisi broke diplomatic relations with Moscow in 2008, after Russia recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were part of Georgia and has long sought independence from it. This happened after the armed aggression of Georgia against Tskhinval in early August of the same year. At the moment between Russia and Georgia the dialogue is supported in the framework of the Geneva discussions held in a Prague regular meetings with Abashidze, the Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin.
Earlier the Georgian foreign Ministry reported that the negotiations between the ministries of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Georgia on the abolition of visa regime is not conducted. Now Russians can visit Georgia without visas, but citizens of the Republic must obtain a visa to visit Russia. The President of Russia Vladimir Putin on 17 December said that Moscow is ready to cancel visa regime with Georgia. The foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation from December 23, eased conditions for obtaining visas for citizens of Georgia.
