Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

Tbilisi welcomed Moscow's decision on visa facilitation for Georgian carriers.

"Russia's decision will promote the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries," Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze told reporters on January 5.

The Russian Foreign Ministry informed the Georgian side through the Georgian interests section at the Swiss embassy of the visa system simplification for Georgian carriers (drivers) on December 27.

After conducting the necessary procedures, information posted soon on the website of the Land Transport Agency (www.lta.gov.ge) will state that reusable business visas will be issued to Georgian carriers as a priority without preliminary registration for a period of one year, Georgian Economy Ministry said on January 3.

The Consular fee for issuing a short-term visa for three working days will amount to $310, while the normal period of 10 working days will cost $160.

International road communication between Russia and Georgia is regulated by a bilateral agreement signed on February 3, 1994. However, road communications with Georgia was discontinued on October 2, 2006, at the Russian Federation's initiative.

Consultations were held between the two countries in 2012 on restoring road communications, and Russia sent authorization forms for international road haulage in late 2012.

Abashidze recently told Russian media that Russian President Vladimir Putin's initiative on the possible abolition of visas for Georgia will be discussed at the end of February in Prague.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin recently said Moscow could restore the visa-free regime with Georgia, and the issue should be discussed at the expert level.

Tbilisi welcomes every step toward the normalization of relations with Russia.

Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbour, 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