Georgia, Tbilisi, March 3 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
"Russia has used elements of political show when offered to Georgia to restore diplomatic relations," - said in a statement of Georgian Foreign Ministry on Saturday in response to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, according to which Russia is ready to introduce a visa-free regime for citizens of Georgia and offered to Tbilisi to restore diplomatic relations.
"It is clear that the restoration of diplomatic relations will be possible only if there's only one embassy of the Russian Federation on internationally recognized territory of Georgia but not three, as it is in accordance with the present situation", - said in a statement.
Georgian Foreign Ministry stressed that if Russia is really going to cancel the visa regime for Georgian citizens, it would be an initiative aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries, and this move to be welcomed by Georgia. "However, the Russian government, speaking on the abolition of visas, provided a number of politicized proposals that raise doubts that this will be done", - stressed in the document.
The visa regime between Georgia and Russia was introduced in 2000 by decision of Russian side, then Georgia has introduced a visa regime for Russian citizens. Since 2004, Georgia had unilaterally simplified visa regime for Russian citizens, giving them visas for one to three months upon arrival in the country. Recently at the initiative of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, the visa regime for Russians was abolished.
Military actions were launched in the Georgian territory, South Ossetia on Aug.8 in 2008. Later the Russian troops occupied the Tskhinvali city and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced two unrecognized republics as the occupied territories.
Georgian Foreign Ministry responded to Russia's proposal to restore diplomatic relations
"Russia has used elements of political show when offered to Georgia to restore diplomatic relations," - said in a statement of Georgian Foreign Ministry on Saturday in response to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, according to which Russia is ready to introduce a visa-free regime for citizens of Georgia and offered to Tbilisi to restore diplomatic relations.
