Georgia and Russia wait for each other's steps to normalize relations

Georgia is waiting for Russia's response to the decision of the Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili to introduce the post of Special Representative of the Prime Minister on settlement of Georgian-Russian relations, said Zurab Abashidze who was appointed to the post.

"We have an expectation that Russia will respond to this step," said MrAbashidze and added that Georgia should make its steps within the principle of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, the "News Georgia" reports.

At this point, "the restoration of Georgian-Russian diplomatic relations" is not on the agenda, said Zurab Abashidze. According to his story, after the elections in Georgia on October 1 the country has new realities, which enable both Tbilisi and Moscow to begin a dialogue to restore, at the first phase, the commercial, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations between the two countries, the "Georgia Online" reports.

In its turn, Moscow expects from Tbilisi, after appointment of Zurab Abashidze to be the Special Representative of the Prime Minister on relations with Russia, particular steps to improve relations, Alexander Lukashevich, the spokesman of the Russian MFA, said on November 3.

"We, of course, pay attention to Tbilisi's statements about the desire to normalize relations with Russia and to the respective appointments; however, we expect primarily concrete and practical steps from the new Georgian government," RIA "Novosti" quotes Mr Lukashevich as saying.