PM Meets Wine Producers

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli held talks with wine producers on April 28 to discuss the problems related to Russia’s ban on wine imports from Georgia, as well as the government’s strategy over gaining access to new markets.

According to some Georgian media reports, the wine-makers criticized the Georgian authorities’ policy towards Russia – in particular Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili’s statement. Okruashvili said several times that even “feces” can be sold in Russia.

Following a closed-door session with the Prime Minister, the group of Georgian wine-makers said that the creation of a joint group was decided in order to jointly solve the problem related with Russia’s ban on Georgian wine.

“We expressed a desire to coordinate our activities. This group will significantly help with this,” Levan Koberidze, sales and marketing director of the Georgian Wines and Spirits company, said.

The wine-makers also said that re-entering the Russian market was still a priority for them.