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Russia hopes to develop constructive cooperation with Georgia under new president

Lavrov reiterated that Zurabishvili used to head the Georgian Foreign Ministry

MILAN, December 7. /TASS/. Russia expects that the countries will go on searching for ways of constructive cooperation under the newly elected Georgian president, Salome Zurabishvili, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists on Friday.

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He noted that recently Moscow and Tbilisi made a number of steps to normalize relations, including the restoration of air traffic. "Russia wants normal relations with Georgia," the minister stressed. "We hope that we will continue to search for ways to develop constructive cooperation under the elected Georgian president."

Lavrov reiterated that Zurabishvili used to head the Georgian Foreign Ministry. "Then we managed to reach a number of agreements, which, unfortunately, were broken by Tbilisi later," he added.

On November 28, the presidential runoff vote was held in Georgia, which involved independent candidate Zurabishvili, who was supported by the leading Georgian Dream Party, and candidate from the opposition party United National Movement and from 10 ally organizations Grigol Vashadze. Zurabishvili secured a victory with 59.52% of votes; Vashadze gained 40.48% of votes. The inauguration of the elected president is scheduled for December 16.

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