Interfax: Georgia’s elected president seeks ‘rational dialogue’ with Russia

MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) – Georgia’s newly elected President Giorgi Margvelashvili has announced his readiness to continue working to further ease tensions in relations with Russia, as well as to seek an association agreement with the European Union and object to recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Georgia’s relations with the European Union are intensifying today, Margvelashvili said in an interview with the BBC.

In a few weeks, Vilnius will host a summit, at which Georgia plans to “initial” its relations, associate membership and trade links with the EU, he said, calling this event a significant step toward Georgia’s development as a truly European country.

Margvelashvili also said he was ready to take further steps to ease the existing strain in relations between Georgia and Russia.

He reiterated Tbilisi’s readiness to continue promoting trade and cultural ties with Moscow.

At some point, Georgia will be prepared to work more effectively within the Geneva consultations on security and stability in Transcaucasia, a format which allows Georgian and Russian diplomats to meet with their Western colleagues and discuss the problems dating back from 2008, as well as possible steps to change this reality, he said.

Stability in the region should encourage rational dialogue between the two countries, he added.

When commenting on Tbilisi’s attitude to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Margvelashvili said that naturally, progress could be made in these issues after Russian and Georgian diplomats fully realized the complexity of this situation.

Certainly, these problems have also been tackled as part of dialogue with the population of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he said.

As far as Abkhazia and South Ossetia are concerned, the Georgian authorities will continue to work with their partners to make sure that these territories are denied recognition as independent states, he said

Steps will also be taken to create such a society in Georgia where the protection of any ethnic groups and any citizens will be guaranteed both by the constitution and practical measures, he said.

Margvelashvili also vowed to establish a society in Georgia where Georgian citizens of Abkhaz and Ossetian origin would want to live.