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Georgia seeks better economic, trading and cultural relations with Russia

PM Garibashvili: we have taken the first steps towards restoring economic, trading and cultural relations with Russia, and we continue working in this direction.

TBILISI, December 18 (Itar-Tass) - Georgian Prime Minister Irakly Garibashvili has said his country keeps working hard in order to improve economic, trading and cultural relations with Russia.

Speaking at a plenary session of the 42nd Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) General Assembly in Tbilisi on Wednesday, Garibashvili said: “We have taken the first steps towards restoring economic, trading and cultural relations with Russia, and we continue working in this direction.”

In 2006, Russia banned the import of wine, mineral water and agricultural products from Georgia due to quality issues.

The supplies of Georgian mineral water to Russia were resumed in May 2013, followed by the resumption of wine exports in June and a short while later, of products with low phytosanitary risks like tea, bay leaf and dried fruit. In the end of October, Georgia resumed exports of agricultural products like apples, pears and quince, followed by the supplies of mandarins, lemons and oranges in November. The export of Georgian grapes and greens to the Russian market will be resumed in December-January.

This year, the two countries have also significantly expanded their contacts in the spheres of culture, sports and humanitarian co-operation.