MOSCOW - Georgia does not rule out the use of international mediators to establish a mechanism for interaction with Russia, Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Pandzhikidze said.
“We do not rule out the use of the international world to intensify
the mechanism governing interaction with Russia. The role of mediators
is generally very important when relations are tense,” Pandzhikidze said
in an interview published in the Wednesday edition of Kommersant.
Pandzhikidze said the specific steps by Georgia to normalize
relations with Russia are an issue for further consultations. “Our
message is specific. We, in turn, are hoping to receive a more specific
answer than we hear now,” she said.
Speaking about whether Georgia can combine its NATO ambitions with
the desire to improve relations with Russia, Pandzhikidze said Georgia
will work on resolving this problem. “A lot can be done even without
establishing diplomatic relations. The creation of new interaction
mechanisms such as the introduction of a post of the prime minister’s
special representative on relations with Russia should not surprise
anyone. Relations can be built using this channel too. The diversity of
channels of interaction is an important condition for defreezing
relations,” Pandzhikidze said.
At the same time, Pandzhikidze said the only associations Georgia can
enter are NATO and the EU. “Our country’s fight for independence was
very difficult and we will never give it up. We have a clear policy on
European and Euro-Atlantic integration. It’s an irreversible process.
The only associations Georgia can enter are NATO and the EU. The country
doesn’t have any other way, no administration will leave it,” the
minister said.
