Russian, Georgian Foreign Ministers Pledge Cooperation

Visiting Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili met her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on May 6 in Moscow. The both Minister welcomed the recent trends in Russo-Georgian relations after the talks.

“Taking into consideration the new conditions and fresh atmosphere in relations between the two countries we expressed our satisfaction concerning the developments in our relationship,” Sergei Lavrov said at a news briefing on May 6. 

Georgian Foreign Minister Zurabishvili underlined the importance of maintaining “tight relations” with Russia, while placing considerable emphasis on Georgia’s links with the EU, the U.S. and NATO.

Georgian Foreign Minister’s visit to Russia follows ex-Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s departure to Moscow on May 6, who was forced to quit after pressure from mass protest rallies and Georgia’s central government.

Russian Secretary of National Security Council Igor Ivanov held talks with Abashidze in Batumi before his resignation. Georgian hailed Russia’s role in solving Adjarian crisis.

“We welcome President Saakashvili’s assurance that order will be restored in Adjara and there will be no repressions and persecution [of former regime’s supporters] and Adjara would retain autonomous status,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

He also expressed hope that free and fair elections will be held in Adjara in the nearest future.

Georgian President described end to the Adjara crisis as “a beginning of Georgia’s reunification,” however Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili said there were “no parallels” between Adjara and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhaz and South Ossetian regions.

She said Abashidze’s departure, “shows the Georgian government can resolve conflicts by democratic and peaceful means.”