Zourabichvili Outlines Georgia’s Position Ahead of Lavrov’s Visit

In an interview to the Russian news agency Interfax, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili blamed Russia for practicing a double standards policy, but added that she has “no pessimistic forecasts about future relations” between Georgia and Russia.

“Currently we are facing certain technical problems in bilateral ties, as there is no progress [being made] in talks at the experts level,” she said, referring to recent negotiations, which were held in Tbilisi last week, between Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministry officials over a comprehensive framework agreement and Russian military bases stationed in Georgia.

Salome Zourabichvili said that Georgia “is in a difficult situation” as Tbilisi “does not understand what Russia wants” from the Georgian side.

“We do not understand why the Russian Defense Minister [Sergey Ivanov] threatens to pre-emptively hit terrorist bases, which allegedly exist in Georgia, shortly before the Russian Foreign Minister’s visit… We are facing a double standards policy from Russia. On the one hand, the Russian Foreign Minister is coming to discuss painful issues, and on the other hand the Defense Minister, actually, directly threatens us with pre-emptive strikes,” Salome Zourabichvili said.

She said that Georgia made “at least three public gestures” in an attempt to show that Georgia is ready to improve ties with Russia.

“First, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was the first to extend a hand of friendship to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Secondly, Georgia has eased visa requirements for Russian citizens; as a result they can obtain a Georgian visa directly at border. And thirdly, Georgia has offered favorable conditions for Russian companies in the privatization process which is currently underway in Georgia,” Salome Zourabichvili said.

The Georgian Foreign Minister also said that she has a short-term plan over bilateral ties, which she intends to discuss with her Russian counterpart.

“It [the plan] involves some concrete steps, which we can discuss over the next three months. In May, our President, Mikheil Saakashvili, could travel to Moscow and attend the 60th anniversary of Victory [in World War II] Day and sign the framework agreement… So I do not have a pessimistic forecast regarding our bilateral relations,” Salome Zourabichvili said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)