Russian-Georgian talks scheduled for Dec.13-14

A Russian-Georgian meeting without mediators, the first since the 2008 war will be held in Geneva on Dec.13-14. As sources in the Georgian State Chancellery told Trend, the country's special representative on settling relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze will leave for Geneva on Dec.12.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, who will take part at the meeting with Abashidze is already there. Today he is representing Russia at the Geneva talks.

As Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said, technical issues will be discussed at the first meeting. "They include the format of negotiations, their frequency and the status of the Russian representative," she said.

Panjikidze said one should expect great results from the first meeting, but it should determine the prospects of a new format.

Military action was launched in the Georgian region of South Ossetia on Aug.8, 2008. Later Russian troops occupied the city of Tskhinvali and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August.


/Trend/