Another Meeting of Abashidze-Karasin Held in Prague

PRAGUE, Czech Republic– Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin held another meeting in Prague, Czech Republic on Wednesday.

According to Abashidze, Russia is working on simplifying visa regime for Georgian citizens. However, Georgian Official noted that cancelation of visa regime with Russia is not on the agenda yet.

“If Russia simplifies visa regime with Georgia, it will be a step forward,” Abashidze noted.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) informs that both sides are interested in continuation of dialogue on specific issues related to the activation of Russian-Georgia ties.

“Russia and Georgia are interested to boost cooperation in trade, transport, cultural and humanitarian fields,” the statement of the Ministry reads.

Moreover, the Russian side says that for the last four years the result of normalization of bilateral relations provides grounds for optimism. 

According to the Russia’s MFA, the sides also referred to the continuing growth of air and road transportations between Russia and Georgia.

“The work on the visa regime liberalization for Georgian citizens will continue. Specifically, the Russian Government is considering the issue of facilitating the visa regime for crew teams of Georgian airlines,” the Ministry informs.

According to the Russian side, in November Tbilisi will host a meeting between Georgian and Russian business representatives that will take place under the auspices of Russia’s and Georgia’s chambers of commerce. 

“The meeting will contribute to further strengthening of economic ties between the two countries", says the statement.

The sides confirmed the readiness to continue the pragmatic course of further step-by-step normalization of bilateral relations. Karasin and Abashidze agreed to hold another meeting in the beginning of 2017. 

In November 2012, then Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili had set up the post of the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Relations with Russia and appointed the country’s former ambassador to Russia, Zurab Abashidze, to this post.

On December 14, 2012, the first meeting between Abashidze and Karasin took place in Geneva.

In 2013-2016 they have been meeting in Prague, with the latest meeting being held this past June.

These meetings constitute the first example of a direct dialogue between the two countries’ officials since 2008 Russian-Georgian war.

Photo: Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze

Source: PIA

By Thea Morrison