Georgian, Russian reps had hardest meeting ever
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Russian relations Zurab Abashidze said the Prague meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin was the hardest in the history of their meetings.
The sides met on October 16 to mull a number of issues, including Russia's plans to create a joint military group with Abkhazia.
The first meeting between the Georgian and Russian representatives was held in Geneva, on December 14, 2012. The talks on the regulation of the bilateral ties continued in Prague as the sides have came to conclusion to meet two or three times in a month.
Abashidze said the latest meeting was the hardest he has ever had with Karasin, noting that they could not come to conclusion on Russia's project.
The continuation or cancellation of the current format of talks will be considered in Georgia, he added.
Russia is unwilling to withdraw from the agreement with Abkhazia on alliance and integration, Karasin told reporters following his meeting with Abashidze.
Meanwhile, Georgia's Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, commenting on the issue said Tbilisi sees a direct threat a in the agreement to be signed by Russia and Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia.
Panjikidze said she intends to raise that issue at the meeting of FMs from 28 countries in Luxembourg on October 20. "The agreement, if signed, means an outright annexation of Georgia by Russia," Panjikidze said.
The draft agreement between Russia and Abkhazia on the alliance
and integration, developed by the Russian side, was sent to the
so-called parliament of Abkhazia on October 13.
Under the draft agreement "the main areas of cooperation,
integration and partnership are: introduction of a coordinated
foreign policy, formation of a common defense and security area,
creation of a unified social and economic space, and preservation
of the common cultural and humanitarian space."
The relations between Georgia and Russia pushed all limits when Georgian troops launched military operations to retake the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions on August 8, 2008. Russian armed forces entered the regions to stop the military attacks by Georgian troops. After four days of tense fighting, Georgian forces were expelled from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia carried out massive air strikes on the military and logistical targets inside Georgia, particularly in Gori city. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on August 12. Russia is currently dominating the collective peacekeeping missions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.