Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin, and the Georgian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Russia, Zurab Abashidze, discussed yesterday in Prague the issues of trade and economic relations, the visa regime and the transfer of Georgian films.
Our agenda included economic and trade relations, transport and humanitarian issues," Abashidze said. Karasin, in turn, noted that the talks were interesting and constructive, as always.
The Russian Foreign Ministry commenting on the results of the meeting said that the sides confirmed their readiness to continue to further normalization of bilateral relations.
Abashidze stressed that the number of Russian tourists this year was almost record. Karasin also noted the increased number of travelers moving between Georgia and Russia and said that the bilateral flow of passengers this year had already exceeded 400,000 people.
On another note, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said this November Tbilisi will host a meeting between Georgian and Russian business representatives, which will take place under the auspices of both countries' Chambers of Commerce.
The meeting will encourage the future strengthening of economic ties between Russia and Georgia,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry added.
Karasin also said the Russian government is working to simplify visas for Georgian citizens.
"I was told that Russia is working to simplify visas for Georgia. It doesn’t mean rejecting the visa regime entirely however if it becomes easier to get a visa then that will be a step taken forward,” Abashidze said.
The Georgian and Russian envoys positively assessed the planned transfer of Georgian films from Russia. "This work has been carried out for almost 25 years, and now our Ministry of Culture is engaged in it," Sputnik-Georgia cited the Georgian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy as saying.
According to the Russian diplomat, during the talks, Abashidze told him that 70% of Georgia's population supports the continuation of an active dialogue on the normalization of bilateral relations.
