Russia, Georgia keep on normalizing relations
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
A Russian top official believes that the process of normalizing relations between Georgia and Russia is continuing normally, despite condemnations from Georgia and the international community related to Russia’s deal with Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said there were times when it was necessary to temporarily pause the talks to consider how to proceed and understand the developments.
"I do not like the word pause,” Karasin told RIA Novosti.
He added that normalization will continue in the areas where it is possible, as both countries think about how to work further.
karasin said no meeting was planned between him and Georgia’s representative Zurab Abashidze before the start of 2015, saying: "We can think about the next meeting's date at the beginning of the New Year.”
Georgia's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze in turn said the current format of negotiations should and would be continued. He withheld details of the next round of talks.
Some Georgian officials claimed that the Abashidze-Karasin format had exhausted itself and was no longer needed, as the diplomats failed to agree on the so-called Russia-Abkhazia "Alliance and Strategic Partnership" treaty at their Prague meeting on October 16.
Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua said the so-called Russia-Abkhazia treaty impeded to normalize relations between Georgia and Russia.
Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia put pen to the so-called alliance deal on November 24. Georgia and international community assessed the document as Russia’s step forward to annex a Georgian region.