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Sergei Markov: Results of pres election in Georgia inspires hope for improvement of its relations with Russia

Georgian political scientist expressed the view that much depends on Moscow’s readiness to address all problems in relations with Georgia

MOSCOW, October 28 (Itar-Tass) - The results of the presidential election in Georgia inspire hope for significant development and improvement of Russian-Georgian relations, Sergei Markov, vice principal of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told the Moscow-Tbilisi televised conference at ltar-Tass press centre devoted to the results of the Georgian presidential election.

Markov congratulated the Georgian people on the election “excellently held” and noted that the convincing victory of Georgy Margvelashvili of the Georgian Dream coalition enables development of the entire range of Russian-Georgian ties. “The Georgian people were able freely to make choice; the election showed vast development of democratic institutions in the country,” Markov said. This gives reason for hope that the Georgian Dream coalition will be able to continue on its chosen road,” he said.

Markov said the election results are viewed in Russia as the possibility of the improvement of relations with Georgia. “We look forward to improvement; we must meet more often and draw up an agenda for the restoration of ties,” the political scientist said. “We must put issues of contention aside and focus on questions that can be settled promptly,” he said. He believes the sides should intensify contacts among workers in the arts, representatives of mass media and experts and then pass on to the establishment of economic cooperation. “The more so as certain steps in this direction have already been made,” Markov noted.

This, he believes, will “permit removing obstacles in Georgian legislation and tackling normalization of diplomatic relations.” “It is no good when there are no such relations between neighours,” Markov said.

Georgian political scientist Ramaz Sakvarelidze, in his turn, expressed the view that much depends on Moscow’s readiness to address all problems in relations with Georgia. He believes that Russia should revise its course and that there should be no passivity on either side.

Mamuka Areshidze, too, hopes that the course of the Georgian Dream coalition at the improvement of relations with Russia will be developed. He expects the president-elect, the new prime minister, as well as Bidzina Ivanishvili to participate in charting the new political line. “I believe he [Ivanishvili] will be making certain correctives to the current course, particularly at the initial stage,” Areshidze said.