Russia, Georgia brace for February talks to be held in Prague

PanARMENIAN.Net - A next round of talks between Georgian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin is "scheduled for the first half of February, 2017 in Prague," TASS cited Abashidze as saying on Wednesday, January 11.

In the latest telephone conversation with Karasin, "an initial agreement was made that the next meeting in ‘Abashidze-Karasin’ format will most probably take place in Prague in the first half of February," he said.

The meeting will focus on "issues of the two countries’ cooperation in trade, economy, transport, culture, humanitarian aspects and current issues," Abashidze said.

In November 2012, Georgia’s then Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili established a post of "the prime minister’s special envoy for relations with Russia" and appointed in the post Abashidze, a renowned diplomat and the country’s ambassador to Russia between 2000 and 2004.

On December 14, 2012, Abashidze’s first meeting with Karasin took place in a Geneva suburb.

On September 2, 2008 Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia "over activities of the Russian Federation in Georgia in August 2008 and recognition of (independence) of Abkhazia and the Tskhinval region by Russia."

Moscow recognized as independent two Georgian breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, following Georgia's attack on South Ossetia that entailed Russia's peacemaking operation in August 2008.