Tensions with Georgia have escalated since mid-April, when Russia's leadership called for closer ties with two breakaway Georgian regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Relations have been consistently frosty since pro-Western Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in 2004.
Erosi Kitsmarishvili told RIA Novosti: "We must now actively search for a way out of this situation, as it must not continue in this way. Georgia is set on finding pragmatic solutions to problems."
Russia and Georgia have historical and religious ties which will prove invaluable in finding mutually acceptable solutions, he said.
Kitsmarishvili said he believed that "the situation that is shaping up in our relations can be overcome," a position that is shared by the Georgian leadership.
"With this new period in our relations, very substantial improvements are possible" due to initiatives by President Saakashvili and other top officials, he said.
Georgian Reintegration Minister Temuri Yakobashvili said last Friday that the country will continue to block Russia's entry to the World Trade Organization until it withdraws its support for Abkhazia, where Russia has around 3,000 peacekeepers.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier today that Moscow is fulfilling all its obligations to Georgia agreed at a meeting between the countries' leaders in February. He noted that Russia has resumed air links with Georgia, canceled most visa restrictions, and is preparing to negotiate the return of Georgian agricultural products to Russian supermarket shelves.
"In general, we want to restore good-neighborly relations with Georgia," Lavrov said.
