Sergei Zheleznyak: Russia and Georgia have many common challenges requiring mutual understanding

Russian parliamentarians welcome Georgian lawmakers' plans to visit Russia, Member of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma Sergei Zheleznyak told the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on the leader of the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia and Parliament Deputy Chairperson Irma Inashvili's intention to hold talks with the State Duma and the Federation Council members in Moscow.

"We know about the intention of a number of Georgian lawmakers to visit Russia and hold meetings with colleagues from the Federal Assembly. Their reception will be handled by the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots headed by Leonid Kalashnikov. I am sure that if Georgian colleagues arrive here, it will be very useful for Russian-Georgian relations," Sergey Zheleznyak noted in the first place.

"I want to express respect for their courage and aspiration to restore normal dialogue between our parliaments and our countries, despite the current difficult situation in Georgia," the Member of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma stressed.

The deputy expressed confidence that relations between Russia and Georgia will be restored. "Sooner or later, our relations will be restored and become as warm and friendly as they were. Both the Russian and Georgian peoples are interested in cooperation and interaction with each other - we have a lot of common challenges that require mutual understanding," Sergey Zheleznyak noted.

Leonid Kalashnikov confirmed earlier that the State Duma will hold a meeting with Georgian deputies. Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev also expressed his readiness to hold talks with members of the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia.