"Russia has to allow Georgian and Abkhazian parties to negotiate face-to-face," - Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, the Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan bishop of Abkhazia and Pitsunda, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II said in his interview with Russian radio Moscow's Echo.
He underlined that it is necessary that representatives of Russian and Georgian government will have a possibility to meet with each other. He said that it would not be proper to say that I have no right to meet with some person; this is illogical, improper, and incorrect. There does not exist in the International Diplomacy such attitude - "I will meet with this person, but will not meet with that one,"" - Patriarch said.
Patriarch believes that in any case it is necessary to meet with person and to talk about the ways for getting closer.
"I believe that the solution is that Georgian and Abkhazian parties should be allowed by Russian Federation to hold negotiations. And the Russian Federation should admit that if the parties will come into agreement, the decision about recognition of independence will be taken back. But if Russia will say day-to-day that Georgians are enemies this will not give any good, "- Patriarch said.
