Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon discussed the normalization of Georgian-Russian relations in Tbilisi on Saturday. Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian Prime Minister's newly appointed special representative for Russian affairs, who attended the closed-door meeting, presented to the State Department official a strategy on normalizing Georgia's strained relations with Russia.

In accordance with the strategy, Georgia should first restore trade and cultural relations with its northern neighbor. However, diplomatic relations cannot be resumed prior to a shutdown of Russian embassies in the rebel regions of Georgia recognized by Moscow - Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Panjikidze and Gordon also discussed prospects of bilateral relations, stressing the importance of geo-strategic partnership and cooperation within the Charter of Partnership signed between the two countries, Georgia Online reports.

Following the meeting Gordon said the U.S. unequivocally reiterates its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

The diplomat said that the US delegation will try to assert this principle in the framework of the next round of Geneva talks on stability in the Caucasus.

The Geneva talks were launched after the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008, in accordance with the August 12 ceasefire agreement.

"Panjikidze confirmed her country's commitment to the principles of strengthening and deepening cooperation with the U.S. and aspiration to integrate into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions," Gordon said, stressing that the U.S. will provide necessary assistance to Georgia on this path.

"The Georgian foreign minister will attend a meeting of the NATO-Georgia commission in early December, where progress towards integration of Georgia into NATO will be confirmed," he said.

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia were established on July 1, 1992 after gaining independence from the former Soviet Union. Tensions between the two neighbors rose in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the rebel Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions and later recognized the breakaway regions. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.

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.

Following the meeting with Gordon, Panjikidze also noted that Georgia's new Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's visit to the U.S. presumably will take place before the end of November.

Gordon, who has completed his visit to Georgia, met with Ivanishvili last Friday.

The sides welcomed the October 1 parliamentary election held in Georgia, which was won by Ivanishvili's opposition coalition and was followed by the formation of a new cabinet, and expressed hope that the building of democratic institutions will continue in the future.

Gordon congratulated Ivanishvili on winning the elections. The prime minister, in turn, thanked Gordon on behalf of the Georgian people for the work done for Georgia.

The recent arrests of high-ranking officials were also discussed at the meeting, and Ivanishvili noted that selective justice will not be allowed.

"During a visit to Europe, I convinced all that the processes will be transparent, and I assure you about it...Our government will not allow selective justice," Ivanishvili said.

Gordon, in turn, said, "Naturally, the rule of law must be respected, and if someone is guilty, they should be punished. Today I met with representatives of both sides, and there was no one who does not share that view."

"These processes should be conducted transparently, but if there is an impression that these processes are not transparent and are like persecution of political opponents, the whole country will pay dearly for it," Gordon noted.

The US assistant secretary of state said the Georgian PM had made it clear that he wants to see the U.S.-Georgia relationship to remain very strong.

"The prime minister stressed Georgia's interest and his interest in continued good relations with the United States, which is certainly a priority that we share," Gordon said, adding that the U.S. remained committed to assisting Georgia.

"He reiterated his interest in continuing to pursue NATO membership and integration into the West and to sustain Georgia's free market economy. And we will look forward to welcoming him in Washington to continue the dialogue. Our relations with this government are strong," Gordon said.

During a meeting with Georgian media representatives Gordon also said that while deciding in what form NATO should continue its relationship with Georgia, firstly the quality of democracy will be considered.

"We will do our best to make relations with us convenient for the United States," Ivanishvili said.

"Georgian troops will help the Afghan security forces also after the withdrawal of NATO troops from the country in 2014," Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said after a meeting with Gordon on Saturday.

The sides discussed issues of Georgian-American military cooperation, the importance of geo-strategic partnership, the prospects of Georgia's integration into NATO and the participation of Georgian military contingent in NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan's Trend news agency reports.

Alasania said that Georgia remains a reliable partner of the United States and is ready to make its contribution to the provision of international security.

He stressed that EU and NATO membership remains a strategic goal for Georgia.

Gordon and Alasania discussed the upcoming visit of the NATO Military Committee delegation to Georgia, which was previously postponed and will now take place in the first half of 2013.

"The U.S. believes that Georgia should continue the policy of integration into the West and peaceful democratic transition of power has to take place," Gordon said.

On Sunday, the last day of his three-day official visit to Georgia, Gordon met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The parties discussed the situation in Georgia after the opposition's victory in the parliamentary elections, according to the Georgian presidential administration.