Tbilisi, Georgia, Feb. 12
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze does not exclude a Russian-Georgian meeting at a high level. As the head of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told journalists on Feb. 12, this is a very serious topic.
"It requires a serious preparation. It will not happen immediately, but we cannot exclude such a meeting and are not interested in excluding the possibility," she noted.
This week, Russian President Putin announced he does not exclude the possibility of a meeting with his Georgian counterpart.
In turn, the Georgian president told journalists that he intends to consult both inside the country and with his western counterparts about a possible meeting with the Russian leader.
According to Panjikidze`s words, there will be a meeting in a Geneva format at the end of March. Besides, at the end of February, a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gregory Karasin and special representative of the Georgian PM, Zurab Abashidze on the regulation of relations with the Russian Federation will take place.
"It is quite possible that some details will be known during the meeting," the minister noted.
She highlighted that the regulation of relations with Russia is very important for Georgia.
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 R.A.
Edited by C.N.