Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

The next round of Geneva talks between Zurab Abashidze and Gregory Karasin, Georgian and Russian negotiators will be held in late February after the Sochi Olympics.

"If Russia decides to cancel or significantly simplify the visa system with Georgia, the Georgian side will welcome it," Georgian Prime Minister's advisor on the Georgian- Russian relations Zurab Abashidze told.

Abashidze said this will improve relations between the two countries.

"We are likely to discuss the same issues and problems as before, namely trade and economic issues, transport communications, cultural, and humanitarian relations. We have recently discussed simplification of the visa system. We got rid of it long ago. If the Russian side takes the same action by cancelling or significantly simplifying it, we will welcome it," he added.

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

Russia recently decided to simplify the visa system for Georgian carriers (drivers), and Tbilisi welcomed Moscow's decision.

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.

The Geneva talks have been one of the venues of contact between Georgia and Russia after the war in August 2008. It includes all the parties of the conflict, as well as representatives of the international community.