Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets Georgian PM, Ex-Speaker

During his visit to Tbilisi on July 3-4 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin met, among others, Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze and the former parliamentary chairperson, Nino Burjanadze.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that “prospects of economic cooperation” between Georgia and Russia were discussed during the meeting with PM Gurgenidze. It said that issues related with preparing a Russo-Georgian inter-governmental commission meeting planned for late 2008 were also discussed.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that Karasin “exchanged views” on Russo-Georgian relations and the internal political situation in Georgia with Burjanadze. The former parliamentary chairperson is due to officially launch her Foundation for Democratic Development on Monday.

During the visit the Russian deputy foreign minister also met Ilia II, the patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, who recently called on the Russian Orthodox Church to refrain from any activities in breakaway Abkhazia without prior agreement with the Georgian Orthodox Church.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that during the meeting with his Georgian counterpart, Grigol Vashadze, Karasin had warned that Tbilisi’s recent actions in South Ossetia undermined the peace process not only in South Ossetia but in Abkhazia as well.