Saakashvili ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ over Russian Sanctions

President Saakashvili said on July 4 that he was “cautiously optimistic” that Russia would lift some of its economic sanctions on Georgia.

“We are still at the initial stage but I think we will get there soon,” he said in an interview with Reuters.

“We are talking to different levels of the Russian administration about getting our products back on Russian shelves.”

Russia banned the import of Georgian wine and mineral water early last year. In October 2006 Russia cut air, sea, land and railway links and postal communication with Georgia, following the arrest and subsequent expulsion of alleged Russian spies.

Despite the sanctions, Saakashvili said, Georgia had almost 10% economic growth.

He said the sanctions had actually been a blessing in disguise. “Paradoxically, [Georgia] should thank Russia for helping create a modern Georgian economy,” he said, “because those sanctions really forced our producers and business people to diversify.”

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