Georgia appeals for Germany's mediation to resolve dispute with Russia
By Nazrin Gadimova
Georgia appeals for Germany's mediation to resolve dispute with Russia, Georgia's Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Berlin on October 8.
"Berlin can play a positive role in eliminating sharp corners in the relations between Georgia and Russia," Panjikidze said.
According to Panjikidze, now the situation has greatly deteriorated in the zone of conflict in South Ossetia, where the process of arranging the so-called border has began, and we ask Berlin to play the role of mediator in resolving this issue with Moscow.
Panjikidze noted that the discussions focused on bilateral relations between Georgia and Germany, as well as Georgia's integration into the EU and NATO.
"We had a very productive dialogue, and the sides were satisfied with it," she said.
The Georgian Interior Ministry reported earlier that the Russian forces continue the preparatory work for the construction of fences in the Dvani village of the Kareli region.
Earlier, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf said Russia should remove the barriers dividing line of South Ossetia with Georgia and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen again urged the Russian government to reverse its decision on recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
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 two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.