Georgian wines to be presented to Russia
By Sabina Idayatova
The Center of Georgia-Russia Economic Cooperation, an organization established in 2012 with the aim to restore economic relations between the two countries, will hold a conference for Georgian wine companies in Tbilisi on Monday.
The event in the Georgian capital will be attended by more than 20 local wine companies and the Association of Exporters of Georgian Wine will be presented there, according to the center.
The center reported that the Association, which was established by a number of Georgian companies, aims to establish profitable unions with Russian importers based on joint efforts.
The center of economic cooperation, a representative of the trade association in Russia (nonprofit organization AURA), will assist the new association of winemakers in holding consultations and provision of high quality service.
Meanwhile, Russia's consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor expects additional documents from the Georgian side to visit wine plants.
Earlier, Georgia and Russia agreed to mull resumption of supplies of Georgian wine and mineral water to the Russian market. The issue was considered during a Moscow meeting between a Georgian business delegation and Rospotrebnadzor. Following the meeting, both sides stated that the embargo on Georgian products could be lifted in spring.
Rospotrebnadzor banned the import of Georgian mineral water and wine in spring 2006 following the aggravation of the Georgian-Russian relations. In late 2012, Russia expressed willingness to start negotiations on the resumption of Georgian goods' supply.
It was planned that Rospotrebnadzor experts will conduct an inspection at the Georgian plants on February 11. The Russian side listed 31 companies it planned to inspect. However, Georgia sent the agreed list of plants and itinerary of the trip later than planned. Thus, the Russian experts' check-up was postponed.
Head of Rospotrebnadzor Gennady Onishchenko said "the Georgian side has withdrawn six companies from the list", but "added more than 10, but we cannot find their documents".
Onishchenko said the experts will be able to head for the inspection of plants after Georgia provides verifiable documentation of companies that have been additionally introduced to the list.
"Our experts can go to the Georgian plants when papers are submitted on the 12 additional companies that Georgia entered to the list in response," Onishchenko said.
Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, 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.