Georgian goods may enter Russian market in late spring
By Sabina Idayatova
Georgian goods may appear in the market of neighboring Russia in
late spring, National Wine Agency head Levan Davitashvili said
following Monday's meeting in Moscow between a Georgian delegation
and Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, which is
responsible for the protection of Russian customers.
The agenda of the visit to Moscow by a Georgian delegation led by Davitashvili includes resumption of supplies of Georgian wine and mineral water to the Russian market.
Rospotrebnadzor banned the import of Georgian mineral water and wine in spring 2006 following the worsening of the Georgian-Russian relations.
Onishchenko assessed the meeting results as positive. "In my opinion, this is a real and speedier way," Onishchenko said, noting that Rospotrebnadzor experts"in about a week" are to inspect the Georgian enterprises that have submitted documents for the resumption of supplies to Russia.
"The next step will be registration of Georgian products in Russia. This will be followed by admission to the Russian market that will be granted through the customs," Onishchenko added.
However, Rospotrebnadzor for the time being will not lift the ban on the import of Georgian wine-making ingredients into Russia.
"We'll not issue permission for the supply of wine ingredients. Wine ingredients are the stuff which is delivered in cisterns and then fermented in Russia," Onishchenko said, adding that this method of distribution has facilitated the spread of forged products.
Export of Georgia's goods to the market of its giant northern neighbor is regarded as one of the main steps toward warming the strained relations between Georgia and Russia.
Although the sides are considering resumption of the supplies of Georgian wine and mineral water, Georgian wine products are not expected to take the same position as the best-selling goods upon return to the Russian market. However, some say that steady demand for these wines is guaranteed.
Special representative of the Georgian Prime Minister for Russian Affairs, Zurab Abashidze, will meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in late February to mull trade, economic and cultural ties.
Although the venue has not yet been specified, Abashidze said that the sides have already identified issues that will top the discussions.
The first meeting between the parties took place in Geneva in December.
Georgia and Russia have maintained 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.