Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said the Kremlin is prepared for `extensive` dialogue with Georgia even amid the split ties with Georgia.
`Even now having no direct diplomatic ties and when Russian interests in Georgia and Georgian interests in Russia are represented by Switzerland, we` re ready to set normal ties, since our peoples long that. Our people are friends and it`s difficult to make them enemies,` Lavrov said in an interview with a Russian TV company Mir.
Lavrov said one of such steps aiming at restoring contacts with Georgia was the opening of the Upper Larsi exit-point; he added Russia was also ready make specific steps for resuming air ties with Georgia, which were artificially cut/
Lavrov has also recommended Georgian government to begin direct dialogue with Abkhazia and Ossetian people and other ethnic groups in Georgia, including Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Lavrov asserts ethnic minorities are oppressed in Georgia.
Representatives of Tbilisi have already commented on Sergey Lavrov`s statement.
`The sooner Russia quits hostile policy towards Georgia, the better it is for them as well as for us. Is it after Clinton`s statement or something else, we only welcome the change of tone by Russia. We reiterate that it is significant for us to have normal relations with Russia. We pose two conditions - respect of Georgia`s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have never posed other conditions to Russia. Of course the Russian occupational troops must leave the Georgian territories`, Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Issues Temur Iakobashvili said.
Georgian MP working on the issues of conflict resolution, Shota Malashkhia says the Kremlin has changed its rough policy towards Georgia, which means that sooner or later, Russia will have to withdraw its forces from the occupied territories.
