Despite the fact that it was Tbilisi’s initiative to sever diplomatic relations, it will never be possible to destroy the relationship between our two nations, and now we are taking a number of practical steps to facilitate the visa regime for citizens of Georgia, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said during a weekly briefing, speaking with the Crimean correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza.
"You know that, despite the fact that it was Tbilisi’s initiative to sever diplomatic relations, we have always said that it is not possible to destroy the relationship between the two peoples, this will never happen. That was not our choice and several practical steps have been taken recently to ease the visa regime. Of course, the issue of easing the visa regime cannot be solved in a day, a week or even a month, but the work continues, we have contacts with the Georgian colleagues," the diplomat noted.
"Once again, we assume it is necessary to bend every effort to ease the humanitarian and civil ties between our countries. At least the department of information and press is doing everything necessary regarding Georgian journalists coming to Russia. We consider all of the applications, we are reacting very quickly, and I think that Georgian journalists can confirm this," Maria Zakharova stressed.
Answering a question from Vestnik Kavkaza, whether the rapprochement between Russia and Turkey may affect the solution of regional problems, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that in the first place it will affect the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the situation in Syria. "I mean the exchange of information on prevention of the terrorist threat. We hope and do our best to ensure that Ankara will agree with the position on the inadmissibility of supporting militants in Syria. I repeat that we raise this issue during bilateral contacts and will raise on the international arene. Therefore a dialogue is always an important step to address problems, including regional ones," the diplomat assured.
"There are various formats in the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh – the OSCE Minsk Group, our direct dialogue with Azerbaijan and Armenia, and high-level meetings of Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents. Therefore, to be honest, we think that these are effective mechanisms. But a constructive role of any state in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would always be welcomed," Maria Zakharova concluded.
