Yesterday, Prague hosted the tenth meeting of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and the Georgian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Russia Zurab Abashidze. it Many economic and humanitarian issues were discussed during the talks, as well as a number of agreements was concluded.
In particular, the diplomats agreed to expand the geography of flights due to increased demand for transportation services. The Russian side voiced its readiness to continue to provide Georgian citizens entering the country for family reasons with visas and also those who wish to visit Russia to participate in the activities of humanitarian, cultural, business and sports character.
Karasin and Abashidze also discussed Georgian citizens convicted for spying in Russia.
The head of the Center for Global Studies, Nana Devdariani, told Vestnik Kavkaza that the last ten meetings have been very useful for Georgia "and the forthcoming negotiations will also be useful". "I can't remember any question, which was raised at these meetings, but not resolved. Karasin and Abashidze reach decisions on all trade, economic and humanitarian aspects. Their dialogue is also important from a political point of view, only the Geneva format of Transcaucasian discussions will not lead to success," she said.
"I am a supporter of the expansion of this format. Karasin and Abashidze should negotiate and meet as long as it is necessary to solve all the problems between the two countries," Nana Devdariani concluded.
The head of the Mediterranean-Black Sea Center of t Institute of Europe of the RAS, Alla Yazykova, agreed that the first ten meetings of Karasin and Abashidze have brought a lot of useful information. "Russia and Georgia should continue the dialogue. Now, it is very important for Russia to have a friendly companion in the face of Georgia. Especially under the onslaught of the Islamic State. The meetings of Karasin and Abashidze are necessary, even if they will not lead to any meaningful and understandable results, even if it is only about preserving the status quo between the two countries," she said.
