Russia: No Basis to Resume Dialogue with Georgia

Russia sees no grounds for restarting political dialogue with Georgia at this stage, according to Russian Foreign Ministry, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Ministry says Tbilisi continues to adhere to the position formed under the Saakashvili administration - namely, that restoring diplomatic relations is possible only if Moscow reverses its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Foreign Ministry called this demand “unrealistic,” and claimed it is “harmful to Georgia itself,” stressing once again that Russia considers the recognition of the two regions’ “statehood” to be irreversible.

Despite this, Moscow says it remains open to further steps toward normalizing relations, but only insofar as Georgia is prepared to engage.

“The ball is in Georgia’s court, and, in our view, no one should be more interested in this than Georgia itself,” the ministry added.