Karasin names main threat for improvement of Russia-Georgia relations

Georgia’s aspirations to join the NATO and the alliance’s military exercises held on the Georgian territory curb the development of Moscow-Tbilisi relations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said after talks with Georgian prime minister's special envoy for Russia Zurab Abashidze.

"Of course, there are remaining difficulties in the process of development of our relations with Georgia. The main of them is the pro-NATO agenda of Tbilisi, the Georgian authorities’ aspirations to be as close as possible to the Euro-Atlantic structures and large-scale military exercises held on the territory of this country," Sputnik cited Karasin as saying.

The diplomat noted that Moscow is convinced that these Georgia's aspirations represent the main threat for the improvement of its bilateral relations with Russia and has been communicating these concerns to the Georgian representatives at the bilateral talks.