Gela Bejuashvili, Georgian Foreign Minister, has greeted the return of the Russian Ambassador, Vyatcheslav Kovalenko to Georgia. However the head of the Georgian Foreign Office considers that it will not lift the existing troubles in bilateral relations between Georgia and Russia which have lately turned to serious tensions.
The Georgian Foreign Minister informed journalists during today visit to the Tbilisi State University named after Javakhishvili, that the Russian Ambassador return was a logical step taken by Russia.
The Ambassador return will not solve all issues and troubles, but it is a good onset. Today we are expecting Russia taking effective steps, which should show that Russia wants to build relations with us on equal rights. It is high time to abandon threats and sanctions toward Georgia, said Mr. Bejuashvili.
As Trend Correspondent to Tbilisi reports, the Foreign Minister emphasized that the fundamental differences and controversies between the two countries are determined by different approaches to the resolution of the conflicts which exist on the territory of Georgia. These controversies in should be surmounted, but not at the expense of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Georgia, he said.
Mr. Bejuashvili said that he could not meet the Russian Ambassador on this stage, as he is about to pay a visit to Italy on January 25. However, as soon as he returns back to the country, such a meeting would certainly take place. He rejected to evaluate the potential of Russian Ambassador, Vyatcheslav Kovalenko, but said that he did not know the Russian diplomat well, adding that he judges people by their actions, not words.
Russian Ambassador, Vyatcheslav Kovalenko was withdrawn from Georgia even before his letters of credentials were presented. His withdrawal was linked with the known espionage scandal occurred in Georgia on September, 2006.