Georgia’s new FM for “Karasin-Abashidze” format

Georgia’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has come out with a statement at the ongoing annual assembly of the heads of Georgia’s Diplomatic Corp “Ambassadorial-2015.” The minister said Georgia continues its pragmatic policy in the relations with Russia despite problems, while to settle the economic issues, it is necessary to continue the work in the format “Karasin-Abashidze.”

“Despite problems, we still continue our pragmatic policy toward Russia, Negotiations on the security and policy issues will, of course, continue in the format of the Geneva international discussions, while the special representatives (in the format “Karasin-Abashidze”) will be working on the economic and humanitarian problems,” Kvirikashvili said.

The minister said development of relations with the countries in the region will be in the focus of attention. “We will continue the strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan and Turkey.  The traditionally close and friendly relations with Armenia will be maintained too,” he said.

Addressing the Georgian diplomats, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili also outlined the relations with Russia saying he sees no alternative to the peaceful dialogue with Moscow. “It is very important for our government to continue its pragmatic policy toward our neighbors, including Russia. I think there is no alternative to the peaceful dialogue and pragmatic policy,” the prime minister said.

As to the jam on the Georgian-Russian border, on the Kazbegi (Georgia) – Upper Lars (Russia) border crossing, the foreign minister of Georgia said: “Unfortunately, on the other side of the Customs Office, the procedures are organized much more slowly, while it takes our customers some 1.5-2 minutes to let a truck pass. It takes much longer for the other side to do it. This creates jams. Therefore, a special format has been created probably to settle such technical issues,” the minister said.

In his words, Georgia will use that format at least to settle the above issue and speed up the customs clearance of trucks on the Russian-Georgian border.

EADaily reported earlier that social media disseminated information on a long queue of trucks - mainly with Armenian number plates - stuck on the Georgian-Russian border. An EADaily correspondent in Tbilisi contacted the relevant Georgian agencies over the problem and where he was told that Kazbegi checkpoint operates in the ordinary course and the Georgian party creates no problems.