The new Georgian government will implement a plan to improve relations with Moscow, while maintaining its policy of pro-Western orientation, Foreign Minister designate Maya Panjikidze said on Monday, RIA Novosti reports.
“There is a specific plan and idea on how to improve relations with Russia,” Panjikidze said. The aim of the Georgian Foreign Ministry is “to improve relations with Russia thus reestablish territorial integrity of the country.”
Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream coalition which won the nation's October 1 parliamentary elections, named Panjikidze among his candidates for key posts in the new Georgian government on Monday. The Georgian parliament plans to approve the cabinet on October 20-21.
Panjikidze maintained the USA remains Tbilisi's main strategic partner and European integration is Georgian Dream's most important aim.
Ivanishvili has said in interviews he intends to combine a policy of EU integration and NATO membership with improvement in relations with Russia, but did not explain how he would reconcile the conflict in those aspirations. Moscow has repeatedly said any Georgian accession to NATO is unacceptable.
