Georgian foreign minister familiarizes U.S. diplomat of strategy to normalize relations with Russia
TBILISI. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon discussed possible options to bring relations between Georgia and Russia back to normal at a Saturday meeting.
The meeting was held behind closed doors and lasted about an hour. It was attended by Georgian prime ministerial envoy for Russia Zurab Abashidze, who familiarized Gordon with Georgia's strategy of normalizing its relations with Russia.
Georgia plans first of all to normalize its trade and cultural relations with Russia, but, as long as the Russian embassies in Abkhazia and South Ossetia exist, the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries is not under consideration.
Following the meeting, Gordon reiterated that the U.S. unambiguously supports Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and will be promoting this principle at the Geneva talks on stability in the Caucasus.
The Georgian foreign minister reaffirmed her country's commitment to stronger and deeper cooperation with the U.S. and the desire to integrate into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, he said.
The U.S. will provide any assistance it can to Georgia to this end, Gordon said.
The Georgian foreign minister will attend sessions of the NATO-Georgia commission in early December, and Georgia's progress on the way of its integration into NATO will be reaffirmed at this session, he said.
Gordon also plans to meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili before he wraps up his three-day visit to Tbilisi later on Saturday.
