Tbilisi, Georgia, Dec.19
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgia is taking all possible steps to ease tensions in its relations with Russia which has already become historic, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili told journalists on Dec.19.
Margvelashvili commented on the statement of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in which he said that Russia is not ready to adopt a visa-free system for Georgian citizens despite the fact that this country is implementing a visa-free regime for Russian citizens.
"We are actively working towards signing of a document for a visa-free regime with Europe. I believe that Georgia will be able to meet European standards in this sphere. If there is a political will, perhaps this will also be acceptable for the Russian standards, but we can clearly see that Russia is not ready for this," the president commented.
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.