Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this week that Moscow approved the pragmatic approach of Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, believes that the Georgian Dream coalition has shown progress in relations with Moscow. Georgian wine and the Borzhomi mineral water are returning to the Russian market.
Commenting of Lavrov’s statement, Vlasov says that it is a new level of relations between the two states and they will continue improving economic, commercial and humanitarian ties in the next two years.
Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are considered the main dispute of Moscow and Tbilisi, so the issue will be omitted due to lack of compromise, the expert explains.
Vlasov notes that the topic of the breakaway republics and the European path of Georgia reflected the interior political assets of Ivanishvili.
There are no expectations of Georgia to join the CIS in the near future.
The expert expressed confidence that the Kremlin will not pressurize Ivanishvili or any other forces of the Georgian political majority. The main problem the Georgian prime minister faces is not relations with Russia, NATO or the Eurasian Economic Union, but the socio-economic issues.
Ivanishvili lacks time and Moscow understands his problems. Such understanding means further development of constructive dialogue, Vlasov concludes.
