Zhgenti: Russian-Georgian consultations should be held with EU participation

In the opinion of Andrei Ryabov, the editor-in-chief of the magazine "World Economy and International Relations", after the change of leadership of Georgia, the talks with Russia will go mainly in the field of economy. These talks should be carried out with the participation of the European Union (EU), said Mamuka Zhgenti, the former Georgia's representative to the Council of Europe.

The meeting of Zurab Abashidze, the representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia for normalization of relations with Russia, with Grigory Karasin, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, took place on November 21 in Prague. During the meeting, they summed up the year's efforts on the establishment of diplomatic relations of the two countries and also discussed Georgia's participation in the Olympic Games in Sochi.

According to Mr Karasin, Russia and Georgia have entered "the period of constructive actions towards joint decision-making", which will be based on "the respect for the interests of both parties, care about citizens and humanitarian ties."

Georgian experts stick to the opinion that first of all it is necessary to settle "the issue of the Georgia's territorial integrity." According to Mamuka Areshidze, the Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies of the Caucasus, the stumbling block is the issue of Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In his turn, Mamuka Zhgenti, the former Permanent Representative of Georgia to the Council of Europe, sees no reason for Abashidze and Karasin to continue their consultations.

"In the interests of Georgia, the consultations with Russia should continue not in the format of 'one-to-one', but together with the Western partners, the EU and the Council of Europe; while the 'one-to-one' format will bring nothing good," he said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the diplomatic relations were broken after the recognition in August 2008 by Russia of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In October 2012, representatives of the coalition "Georgian Dream" expressed their intention to start restoring the relations with Russia.