“International Crisis Group”: common interests can bring Russia and Georgia together

The authors of a report “Georgia – Russia: learning to live in a neighbourly way” issued by an international organization “International Crisis Group” consider that common interests in the spheres of strengthening security, activization of trade and improving transport communications between Russia and Georgia can facilitate renewal of the dialogue between these two countries.

Preparation of the report “Georgia – Russia: learning to live in a neighbourly way” issued on the third anniversary of the beginning of the war in South Osetia took about four months, Lawrence Sheets, Director of South-Caucasian project “International Crisis Group”, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent. Eight members of the organization residing in the USA, Europe and Russia took part in working out the document.

In the authors’ opinion, the authorities of Russia and Georgia should start direct negotiation with no preconditions on a number of problems and moderate mutual accusations of organizing explosions and support of terrorism.

“Unfortunately, there are no diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia as of today, Lawrence Sheets remarks, - there are only mutual accusations having nothing to do with any attempts of reestablishing relations”.
According to Sheets, the report is aimed at “making at least minimum steps” towards reestablishing the dialogue between the two counties. He emphasized that the dialogue met the interests of both countries.

Sabina Fraser, one of the authors of the report “Georgia – Russia: learning to live in a neighbourly way” considers the theme of Russian – Georgian relations a very significant one. “In our strong opinion, Russia and Georgia have a lot of common interests: in the sphere of security, energetics and transport, - Fraser says. – It is very important for these countries to sit down at the negotiating table and start discussing their mutual interests instead of exchanging hostile attacks upon one another”.