Georgian bloggers have not reacted positively to the Russian-Georgian Journalism School hosted by Tbilisi. They emphasize that the North-South Center for Political Analysis, organizer of the school, hosts it in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia almost simultaneously.
Fedor Lukyanov, a teacher of the school, Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs Journal, head of the presidium of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy since December, said in an article of Rossiyskaya Gazeta that Georgians were realizing the asymmetry of relations with Russia, where Moscow had less interest in improving relations, but still expecting Russia to make steps towards Georgia.
Appointment of Zurab Abashidze as the Georgian PM’s representative for talks with Russia was considered neglectful. A similar situation can be seen regarding the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia wants status quo for the issue and avoid its discussions.
Lukyanov believes that Georgia was changing and learning lessons of the past 20 years. Russia needs to send a clear signal of prospects of improving ties.
