Russian Deputy FM on Ties with Georgia

Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, hailed what he called Georgian government’s attempts to build ties with Russia on “pragmatic basis”, but expressed concern over Tbilisi’s NATO integration and said Moscow sees “dualism” in Georgia’s position.

Karasin, who is Russia’s chief negotiator in the Geneva talks, launched after the August 2008 war, and also is involved in direct dialogue with Tbilisi led from the Georgian side by PM’s special representatives for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze, spoke about relations with Georgia in an interview with Russian newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, published on April 7.

“Despite of all the difficulties, which emerge at times, we intend to continue dialogue with Tbilisi,” Karasin said. “After the new leadership came into power in 2012, I mean Ivanishvili and his supporters, it was decided that this dialogue will possibly facilitate solving of practical issues and ease contacts between people. Almost one million ethnic Georgians live in Russia, who are part of our people. Nine meetings have been held with Georgian prime minister’s special representative for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze; this is a measured and experienced person. At these meetings we do not address issues, which are unsolvable in the current situation – we instead focus on practical issues of bilateral relations such as transport, aviation, humanitarian contacts, visa practices, export of Georgian wine and mineral waters.”

He said that “in overall we are developing ties normally in the condition of absence of diplomatic relations between our countries”.

Karasin, however, said that “aggressive minded” opposition in Georgia tries to “artificially aggravate” situation in bilateral ties between Tbilisi and Moscow. 

“Opposition forces, which mainly come from ‘Saakashvili’s nest’, are artificially aggravating situation today. These are aggressive minded people, who are exploiting economic difficulties, which Tbilisi faces, for their own interests,” Karasin said.

“However, for the future it is important for Tbilisi to shake off the burden of the previous unbridled, anti-Russian regime, which saw all kind of evil in its northern neighbor. Whatever negative was happening in the country or in the region, it was immediately linked to Russia,” Karasin said. “That’s an example of political idiotism.”

“When you live in a small country next to a major power, it would be more rational to match your geopolitical ambitions with real life. Otherwise you doom your people to a test. That’s what happened as a result of Georgian adventure in August, 2008. Saakashvili lost one-fifth of territories of the country,” Karasin said, adding that Georgia’s “attack on South Ossetia” was possibly dictated from outside.
 
“Georgia’s new leadership aspires to build its relations with Russia on more pragmatic basis,” he said.

“Of course we are concerned that mysterious NATO training centers are emerging on the territory of Georgia, promising statements are made about the need to speed up moving towards NATO structures,” Karasin said.

“We take into consideration and view it as dualism in [Georgia’s] position,” he added.

“At the same time we also make reference to the fact that Georgia’s new leadership is interested in solving concrete issues and in pragmatic relations with the Russian Federation. We are also interested to live in peace and agreement with Georgia,” the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said.

Commenting of Russia’s recently signed “alliance” treaties with breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Karasin said that “hysteria caused by Tbilisi and the West” over these agreements “is an attempt to return the situation in the region back to August, 2008.”

“We cannot allow Tbilisi to constantly call under question their [Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s] ability to develop relations with us in a way they deem it necessary,” Karasin said.