Tbilisi, Georgia, May 13
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Despite all the obstacles and difficulties, Georgia will continue the dialogue with Russia, Alexi Petriashvili, Georgian State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration said.
He made the remarks while speaking at the Georgian-French business forum today, on May 13.
The state minister mainly focused on the importance of signing the association agreement with the European Union.
"We are confident that this doesn't contradict with the steps taken by Georgian authorities to normalize the relations with Russia, and the prospects for intensifying the trade and economic relations between the two countries," Petriashvili said.
"Our trade turnover grows both with France and Russia. And this harms neither the Georgian-Russian relations, nor Georgian-EU relations. Despite all the obstacles and difficulties, we will continue our dialogue with Russia...Nevertheless, our choice, the Euro-Atlantic choice has no alternative," the state minister stressed.
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Edited by C.N.