Georgia, Tbilisi, Oct. 29 /Trend, N. Kirtzkhalia/
Georgia is ready to establish diplomatic relations with Russia, but only in case it refuses to recognize separatist regions, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said on Tuesday, commenting on the recent statement of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov congratulated Georgia on the election and expressed hope that Tbilisi will restore diplomatic relations with Russia.
"I really want an emergence of such a situation in which Georgia will restore diplomatic relations with Russia. I really want this, because the precondition is the de-occupation and the refusal to recognize the occupied regions. If this happens, then, of course, Georgia is ready to establish diplomatic relations with Russia," Panjikidze said.
As for the agreement on non-resumption of war, the foreign minister said Georgia has unilaterally undertaken commitment not to open fire, and now it is Russia's turn to undertake a similar commitment.
"This issue is being discussed in Geneva, and the next round of talks will be held after a week," she said.
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.
Presidential elections were held in Georgia on October 27. Candidate of the ruling coalition Georgian Dream Party, Giorgi Margvelashvili won the elections with 62.11 percent of the vote. The inauguration of the elected president will take place on November 17.