Russian Foreign Minister Says Tbilisi Impedes Cooperation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview to the Russian newspaper Vremia Novostei, that the Georgian side is hampering more close cooperation between Tbilisi and Moscow.

?Cooperation between Russian and Georgian special services takes place[in fighting terrorism]. We would like for this cooperation to be more effective,? Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on September 9.

He expressed regret that the ties between the two counties are not as close as it was agreed during the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili, which took place in Moscow in February this year.

?Unfortunately, in practice the agreements reached in February are torpedoed by the Georgian side. We hope the Georgian side will understand that the unilateral forceful steps towards so called Ossetian and Abkhazia problems have no perspective. I hope Tbilisi will understand that seeking an external enemy in the form of Russia is counterproductive, to say the least.? the Russian Foreign Minister added.

He reiterated once again that the Russian side ?has offered Tbilisi proposals? aiming at ?normalization of all…bilateral relations.?

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling on the Georgian side to accept the proposals offered by the Russian side. However, in a statement issued on August 27, the Georgian Foreign Ministry responded, that the Georgian side, ?has not received any constructive proposals and with a view to dispersing publicly any doubts, calls upon the Russian side to forward the package of aforesaid constructive proposals to the Georgian Authorities.?

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said in an interview to the Russian newspaper that Tbilisi should confirm its ?commitment to solve the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia through peaceful means.?

?Creation of this kind of normal atmosphere in relations [between the two countries] will increase efficiency of work of the special services [of the two countries] in fighting terrorism,? Sergei Lavrov said.