Georgian PM opposes Abkhazia, South Ossetia's participation in PACE session as independent party
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is against giving the floor at PACE to Abkhazian and South Ossetian separatists as an independent party.
"These regions are parts of Georgia and they can be given the floor at PACE within our delegation. I see no problem with this," Ivanishvili said during his speech at PACE on Tuesday.
According to Ivanishvili, there is no dialogue with the Abkhazian and South Ossetian parties, and contact is impossible under these conditions, which is grounds for Tbilisi's concern.
Access for Abkhazian and South Ossetian officials to PACE has been repeatedly lobbied for by Russia.
The first thing needed for the unification of Georgia is patience, the Prime Minister said.
"We have to demonstrate patience based on our historical brotherhood and friendship that will eventually result in the desire of all parties to build a united state," he said.
According to Ivanishvili, economic strengthening and the building a democratic society will make Georgia interesting to Abkhazians and Ossetians, as well as to Russia and Europe.
"They must to want to live together with us and forget all past feuds," he said.
The Prime Minister noted that this requires time and patience to allow the parties to forget their injuries or for them to heal.
"Only after that we can discuss living together and forget the mistakes made by both sides during these years," he said.