Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin met in Prague on November 21.

As Karasin said after the meeting, the manic hostility between the two countries became a thing of the past.

"We reached a constructive dialogue and for the year we solved many economic and social issues, such as the restoration of transport connection, the return of Georgian goods to the Russian market, and we have the intention to deepen our cooperation in the future," he said.

Karasin expressed satisfaction with the level of negotiations held in Prague. Moreover, the Russian diplomat said Moscow closely watched presidential elections in Georgia, and expressed satisfaction with their outcomes.

Abashidze, in turn, said that the Georgian government seeks a new relationship with Russia, which does not imply the absence of constructivism and is focused on a positive outcome.

"I assured the Russian side that the Georgian president and prime minister wish to improve and to normalize relations through the establishment of economic cooperation and solving social problems, as well as humanitarian projects", Abashidze said.

Abashidze added that progress in the Geneva talks is desirable and both sides continue serious work in this direction.

The first meeting of the official representatives of Russia and Georgia was held as part of settling bilateral relations in Geneva on December 14, 2012. Afterwards, the discussions continued in Prague. The sides agreed that such meetings will take place again in the next 2 or 3 months.

The November 6-7 negotiations towards an agreement on non-use of force in the framework of the Geneva talks on Abkhazia and South Ossetia ended without result.

Georgia and its giant northern neighbor Russia have had 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.