Russian and Georgian special representatives to meet in Prague
By Sabina Idayatova
Georgian Prime Minister's special representative on Russia
Affairs Zurab Abashidze and First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia
Grigory Karasin will meetin Prague on 4-5 June, Abashidze said in
his speech at NATO seminar in Tbilisi on Tuesday.
This will be the third meeting between Abashidze and Karasin since
the change of government in Georgia after the parliamentary
election in October, 2012. Their meetings have so far led to an
agreement about allowing Georgian products back to the Russian
market.
Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have had no
diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off
relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian
assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions -- South
Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the breakaway regions.
Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied
territories in September 2008.
"We will mull In Prague the period of five or six months that have
passed since our last meeting. We will analyze the directions in
which our relations are developing and how they are affected by the
start of negotiations," he noted.
Abashidze said the discussions will also concern an introduction of
a visa-free regime for certain categories of persons.
According to Abashidze, certain transport hindrances will also be
solved.
"I mean the Kazbegi-Larsi check-point, which will start functioning
24 hours a day from June 1. This is necessary so that our export
has the shortest route to Russia," he added.
"We have faced some criticism from the Georgian opposition in
relation to the negotiations, but I want to note that we do not
intend to replace the Geneva process with participation of
international mediators and even moved the negotiations from Geneva
to Prague," Abashidze noted.
Meanwhile, the Georgian FM Maia Panjikiizde said at a press
conference on Monday that there are two formats of relations with
Russia, the Geneva format and Abashidze-Karasin meetings, adding
that no progress has achieved yet.
"We have never stated that we can deoccupy our country with the
format of Abashidze-Karasin meeting. We are realists. This is a
pragmatic approach, and we believe that this can improve the
general status if we can identify common interests. We have
outlined precisely the topics that were discussed: the economy,
trade, cultural and humanitarian issues. The aggressive rhetoric
which presented in the past will not be repeated, and this will
improve the political climate," Panjikiizde said.
Furthermore, Panjikidze expressed hope for achieving some
success within the Geneva format under the new regime.
"Nevertheless, it [Geneva format] is the only format where Georgia
has a dialogue with Russia with the participation of international
organizations and the United States, so it remains the most
important one. Hopefully, in subsequent rounds, we will succeed in
subsequent rounds," Panjikidze noted.
The first meeting of the Georgian and Russian Special
Representatives was held in Geneva on December 14, 2012. The sides
had agreed to hold such meetings once every two months.