Russia stands for normalization of relations with Georgia, but cannot reverse its decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, said Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Moscow.
Republic of South Ossetia is recognized by the Russian Federation; thetwo countries have established equal contractual relationship in accordance with the international standards.
This has been said IA "Res" by the RSO Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev, commenting on a statement of the Georgian Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili, that "Georgia does not recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia and wants to protect these countries from the Russian expansion."
The first meeting of the official representatives of Russia and Georgia held in Switzerland within the framework of settlement the Russian-Georgian relations, has not given any concrete results. There is every reason to believe that this will continue, and the planned meetings held "once within two or three months", will be another stillborn pseudo-diplomatic format like the "Geneva talks." This, certainly, will not affect the Russian-Ossetian relations and the situation in South Ossetia as a whole.
Lately, representatives of the new Georgian government have been actively discussing in the media the results of the 22 round of Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia. According to the Georgian politicians, their "constructive" proposals have not been announced, as the Ossetian and the Abkhaz participants "did not take into consideration that it would be better to take more positive steps in relations with the new government of Georgia."
IA "Res" asked the Presidential Envoy of South Ossetia for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev to comment on the statements of the Georgian politicians.