Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

A candidate for the post of Georgian foreign minister has said her country is prepared to normalize its relations with Russia, but without making any concessions on the Abkhazia and South Ossetia issues.

"Tbilisi will not restore diplomatic relations with Moscow as long as Russian embassies function in Tskhinvali and Sukhumi," Maia Panjikidze said during parliamentary hearings Tuesday. "The non-recognition of separatist Abkhazia and South Ossetia will remain one of the top priorities for the Foreign Ministry."

Russia crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions in August 2008 and later recognized the breakaway regions. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories.

Though Panjikidze ruled out any softening of Georgia's stance on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Tbilisi appears to be eager to find other ways to improve its relations with Moscow.

Panjikidze believes that a first step can be possible restoration of Georgia's cultural and economic relations with Russia.

"We don't have a stand-by plan on normalization of relations with Russia, but will take certain steps that will probably lead toward political dialogue," Panjikidze said.

According to her, one of the highest priorities of the Georgian Foreign Ministry will be strengthening relations with its neighbors.

"I will try to improve relations with Russia," she noted. "It will not be a short-term process, it will be a difficult one, but it will be one of our main goals. It is also important to preserve the format of the Geneva talks."

Panjikidze also promised to maintain the foreign policy of the previous government at a meeting of the joint parliamentary committee on European integration and foreign relations.

"The European way is the only right way, and I hope that the new government will take successful steps in this direction," Georgia Online quoted Panjikidze as saying. "Still, strengthening relations with neighbors and attempts to normalize relations with Russia remains high on the agenda."

Russian experts and most of the politicians do not expect major shifts in the relations with Georgia after the defeat of President Mikheil Saakashvili's party at the parliamentary election held on October 1. They admit that after the war in South Ossetia, Georgia nearly lacks pro-Russian forces.

South Ossetia was recognized as an independent republic by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu in the wake of the 2008 South Ossetia War.

Georgia and the vast majority of other countries do not recognize Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence and officially consider them as sovereign territory of the Georgian state. The two rebel regions were recognized by six and five UN member states respectively. They are also mutually recognized by two UN non-member states and by each other.

The Geneva talks have taken place since October 2008, based on the agreement signed after the Russia-Georgian 2008 war, with representatives from Georgia, Russia, and the de facto governments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia taking part, along with the UN, OSCE and EU mediators.

Opposition coalition Georgian Dream, led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, won the parliamentary elections in Georgia, securing a 85-seat majority in the legislature. President Saakashvili, who will retain the helm of state until his current term ends in October 2013, last Wednesday nominated Ivanishvili as a candidate for the post of prime minister in the next cabinet.