Georgia wants better relations with Russia - foreign minister
TBILISI. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Georgia's new foreign minister said better relations with Russia are one of the Caucasian country's foreign policy priorities, but warned that Georgia will not restore diplomatic relations with Russia before the latter withdraws its armed forces and embassies from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Maia Panjikidze made these points on Thursday in connection with the appointment of career diplomat Zurab Abashidze as the prime minister's special representative for Russia.
"It is one of the foreign policy priorities of Georgia to improve relations with Russia, though the restoration of diplomatic relations is only possible after the de-occupation of Georgian territories and the closure of Russian embassies in Sukhumi and Tskhinvali," Panjikidze told reporters.
Today international talks in Geneva on the aftermath of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war are the only format for relations between the two countries, the minister said. The office of the prime minister's special representative opened other channels for contacts, she said.
Panjikidze said her ministry would coordinate its decisions with those of the special representative. "I can't see any discord. We'll consult each other. Of course, Zurab Abashidze will report to the prime minister, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be involved in many aspects of his activities," she said.
Abashidze, whom Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili introduced during a news briefing on Thursday, was at one time ambassador to Russia.