Georgian, Russian Envoys Negotiate in Prague
Georgian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, held an informal meeting in Prague on January 31.
The details of the meeting were revealed by the Georgian Government’s Press Service, which says that in parallel with the issues on the agenda, Abashidze also raised the issue of recent developments in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.
The Georgian envoy also condemned the ratification of the so called military deal between Russia and breakaway South Ossetia, which envisages the incorporation of the unlawful military units of the occupied Tskhinvali region into the military forces of Russia.
The opening of so called customs checkpoints in occupied Akhalgori, South Ossetia in late January was also denounced by Abashidze.
The sides discussed mutual cooperation issues in the fields of tourism, economics and trade.
Abashidze also spoke about the implementation of the 2011 agreement on the Cargo Monitoring Movement, which was signed with a neutral Swiss company by Georgia two months ago, but the Russian side has not finalized the contract yet.
The Georgian envoy stated that the Russian side says they will sign the agreement, but do not indicate when.
Abashidze also says the Russian side has given an incorrect interpretation to the deal, when it mentions so called customs borders between Georgia and its two occupied regions.
He noted that the 2011 agreement can be realized only with the full respect for its principles and provisions, without any different interpretations or politicization.
“The agreement does not include any borders. It only envisages the carrying out of monitoring of cargo movement through the three trade corridors,” Abashidze explained.
The first Abashidze-Karasin meeting took place in Geneva on December 14, 2012.
Since 2013, the meetings have been held in Prague. The meetings constitute a direct dialogue between the two countries’ officials following the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, after which Georgia cut diplomatic ties with Russia.
By Thea Morrison