Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania has called on Russia to change its rhetoric, commenting on a recent statement by Russia's foreign minister, and suggested that Moscow respond to the proposals of the new Georgian government on taking reciprocal steps.

Following a Russian-NATO ministerial meeting on Tuesday, Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tbilisi's statement that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are occupied territories of Georgia does not contribute to the establishment of a direct dialogue with Moscow, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

"Our Georgian neighbors intend to normalize relations, but assert Abkhazia and South Ossetia are occupied territories. Perhaps, such kind of rhetoric is not very conducive to the dialogue without preconditions," Lavrov said. He was commenting on the Georgian statement about the need to resume direct dialogue after 2008 with Russia without preconditions, referring to the period following the brief Russo-Georgian war.

According to Lavrov, Russia does not behold any problems in the establishment of a dialogue with Tbilisi, but would like to understand "what is exactly proposed and specifically how it is suggested to be done". He added that Moscow has never backed down from contacts with Georgia.

The Georgian defense minister in turn said, "Lavrov did not tell me anything personally. I would like for Russian reciprocal steps and rhetoric to be more appropriate for positive signals of the new Georgian government. One of such signals is the appointment of a special representative [for the Russian affairs]."

In August 2008, diplomatic tensions and clashes between Georgia and rebel South Ossetia erupted into a war. The development also led to tensions between Russia and Georgia as Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia and later recognized the rebel 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.