Envoy Abashidze: Georgian reaction to Russia-Abkhazia treaty should be principled, not hysterical

Published Nov. 25, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Georgian opposition supporters hold flags during their rally in central Tbilisi on Nov. 15, 2014. Over 30,000 opposition supporters rallied today in the Georgian capital against the government's Russian policy and the Kremlin's backing of separatists in the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.

Photo by AFP PHOTO / VANO SHLAMOV

Tbilisi - There is no reason to stop the normalization dialogue with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, Special Envoy of the Georgian Prime Minister for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze has said.

“The opposition’s attitude to this communication channel is very emotional and childish,” Abashidze told reporters on Tuesday, Nov. 25, commenting on the appeal from the former ruling party United National Movement to stop the dialogue with Russia.

Tbilisi should respond to the alliance and strategic partnership treaty between Moscow and Sukhumi “without hysterics but in a principled manner,” he stated.

The situation should be dealt with in a systematic and serious fashion and every lever and international forum should be used in doing so, Abashidze noted.