MFA Demands Explanations from Russian Envoy
The Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili on March 23 to express protest regarding the statement made by Russian Prime Minister’s aide Genady Bukaev at a joint session of the governments of the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia and Russia’s North Ossetian republic on March 22.
Genady Bukaev said that the Russian leadership has made “a principled decision” on unification of breakaway South Ossetia with Russia’s North Ossetian Republic.
“The Georgian side rejects the grossly irresponsible statements made by the high-ranking Russian official as categorically as the joint format in which the governmental session of North Ossetia and so-called South Ossetia was held,” an information note issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on March 23 reads.
Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze expressed serious concern over the so-called phyto-sanitary measures imposed by the Russian side over the Georgian-Russian state border, which led to the suspension of export of vegetable products from Georgia to the Russian Federation.
“Russia is pursuing a latent trade restriction policy against Georgia… Such unfair actions will by all means have a due effect on the next meeting of the working group on the accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in an information note.
The Russian Ministry of Agriculture imposed temporary restrictions on import of agricultural products from Georgia to Russia last December.
