Georgian patriarch urges Russia and Georgia to start dialogue

Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All-Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskhet-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Abkhazia and Pitsunda, urged Georgia and Russia to start a dialogue, Trend reports.

The patriarch said that there are numerous problems to solve. The complicated situation in the Caucasus worsens with the lack of dialogue, he noted.

Ilia II says that there was progress in among civilian contact but they were not followed with further steps. The declarations made by the sides do not lead to rapprochement. On the contrary they separate them even more.

A delegation of the Georgian Orthodox Church arrived in Moscow. The Metropolitan of Zugdid and Tsaish Gerasim (Sharashenidze), Archmandrite David (Jincharauli), Archpriest Georgy (Kharazishvili), Georgian ex-ambassador to Russia Zurab Abashidze are part of the delegation. The delegation will have talks with representative of the Russian Orthodox Church and a meeting with the Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Kirill. The delegation will stay in Moscow until the end of the week.