Tbilisi Calls on Russia for Talks, Joint Inspection of Wines

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze met with Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili on April 6 to discuss Russia’s ban on the import of Georgian wine and spirits.

According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry, despite numerous efforts officials in Tbilisi have failed to hold a dialogue with the Russian side over this issue.

“Moreover, instead of holding consultations the Russian side made one more decision on April 5, which banned the import of Georgian brandy and sparkling wine,” the statement issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on April 6 reads.

The Russian Ambassador said that Russia’s Chief Sanitary Inspector Genady Onishenko, who recommended that country’s customs department ban the import of Georgian wine and spirits, is ready to meet with representatives of the Georgian side in the coming days, according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, Georgian Parliament’s Vice Speaker Jemal Inaishvili, who also chairs the Georgian Chamber of Commerce, said on April 6 that he has already offered the Russian officials to jointly inspect the quality of Georgian wines.
 
“I have already sent a relevant letter to [Evgeni] Primakov [President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry], as well as other Russian state structures, in order to jointly control the quality of the wine,” Jemal Inaishvili said at a news conference on April 6. 
 
Representatives of the leading wine producing companies Tbilgvino, Teliani Valley and GWS, who also participated in the press conference, said that they have not suffered any financial losses yet; however they added that the “reputation of Georgian wine has already been undermined.”
 
The Georgian wine producers plan to meet with those Russian partners who were engaged in distributing Georgian wines in Russia on April 12-13. The Georgian winemakers also said they plan to organize a Georgian wine exhibition in Moscow, which will be attended by Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, whose visit to Moscow is reportedly scheduled for April 10.

The wine producing companies also plan to hold a competition of Georgian wines in Tbilisi on May 11-12.  Russian experts will be invited onto the jury.