Russia welcomes Switzerland as a mediator in restoring ties with
Georgia, the Russian Prime Minister's press-secretary Dmitry Peskov
said, RIA Novosti reports.
The statement was made after a meeting of Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin and Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey.
Swiss mediation contributed to negotiations on the WTO between Russia
and Georgia in March 2011. Tbilisi abandoned the negotiation process
on Russia's membership of the WTO in April 2008, when Russia lifted
economic sanctions against Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russia and Georgia broke off diplomatic relations after the war in
August 2008, when Moscow recognized the independence of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia.
