PM, Russian Envoy Discuss Ban on Wine Import

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli met with the Russian Ambassador to Tbilisi Vladimir Chkhikvishvili on April 5 and discussed issues related to Russia’s ban on Georgian wine imports, the Georgian PM’s press office reported.
 
The Georgian PM expressed protest regarding the decision by Russia’s chief sanitary inspector Genady Onishenko, who along with banning the import of wine and spirits from Georgia, suspended the operation of the already issued sanitary-epidemiological conclusions of those wines which have already been imported to Russia.
 
Zurab Nogaideli said that a delegation from the Georgian Agriculture Ministry is ready to visit Russia to discuss the problem with the Russian authorities.  Georgian Agriculture Minister Mikheil Svimonishvili said on April 5 that he tried in vain to talk with the Russian chief sanitary inspector via phone.

PM Nogaideli also informed the Russian Ambassador that Georgia wants to organize an exhibition of its wines in a number of countries, including Russia.