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Georgia to continue pragmatic, balanced policy in ties with Russia — PM

The Georgian premier notes several Georgian parties are against direct dialogue between Tbilisi and Moscow

Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili EPA/MARCEL BIERI

Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili

© EPA/MARCEL BIERI

TBILISI, July 26. /TASS/. Georgia will continue pragmatic and balanced policy in relations with Russia, Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili said on Tuesday.

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"At this stage, there is no progress in resolving main problems in relations with Russia," Kvirikashvili said at the annual meeting of Georgian ambassadors to other countries. "Despite a number of Russia’s actions unacceptable for Georgia, we will continue pragmatic and balanced policy in relations with Russia. There is no alternative to that," he added.

At the start of July the Georgian prime minister said that "Georgian government has carried out a policy of de-escalation and normalization of relations with Russia over the last several years."

"As a result of this policy, we managed to restore and develop trade and economic relations with Russia. Several humanitarian problems are being resolved," he noted.

Several Georgian parties, including former ruling party "United National Movement," are against direct dialogue between Tbilisi and Moscow. "Tbilisi should exert pressure on Moscow with the help from the West so that Russia changes its policy toward Georgia," they said.

However, other parties and politicians call on current Georgian authorities to engage in more active dialogue with Russia. Former parliament speaker, leader of the party "Democratic Movement - United Georgia" Nino Burdzhanadze said that "no one will resolve main problems of our country for us, normalization of relations with Russia is needed for that."

"Dialogue on trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation is not enough for full-scale normalization of relations with Russia. Dialogue of the leaders of two countries on all accumulated acute issues is necessary," Burdzhanadze noted.

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