Tbilisi, Georgia, Feb. 25
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
U.S. President Barack Obama said he appreciated the aspiration of the Georgian side to improve the relations with Russia, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze told media in Washington on Feb. 25.
The Georgian Foreign Minister is in the United States as part of a delegation from the country led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The delegates met with U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden.
"The American leader considered our efforts to improve relations with Russia as a positive step," Panjikidze said. "President Obama has called on us to be constructive in the future."
The representatives of the new Georgian authorities, who came to power following parliamentary elections in October 2012, announced the normalisation of relations with Russia as one of its priorities.
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 NH
Edited by SM