Russia announced at the weekend that it had deployed railroad troops to Abkhazia to help repair track in the Georgian breakaway region, a move that prompted Tbilisi to accuse Moscow of preparing for military action.
"If Russia withdraws from the conflict zone its railroad troops and military formations deployed in Abkhazia under the cover of peacekeepers, and annuls its April 16 decision on special relations with Sukhumi [Abkhazia], all other issues can be negotiated," Yekaterina Tkeshelashvili said.
In April Russia's then president Vladimir Putin called for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another breakaway region in Georgia, provoking fury from Tbilisi, which accused Moscow of trying to annex the regions.
Tkeshelashvili said Georgia would never agree to a compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty. However, "All the rest can be discussed," she said.
Tensions between Russia and Georgia have been consistently strained since Western-leaning President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in the South Caucasus country in early 2004.
The long-running row over Georgian breakaway regions, along with Tbilisi's plans to join NATO, have been major factors behind the dispute. In a recent development, Georgia accused Russia of shooting down an unmanned reconnaissance plane over Abkhazia on April 20. Moscow denies involvement in the incident.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU's external relations commissioner, told Russian lawmakers earlier on Wednesday that Russia's actions in Abkhazia could damage stability in the region. She said the EU will continue to support the territorial integrity of Georgia, and will initiate steps to improve trust and promote dialogue between the sides.
Tkeshelashvili said the EU is ready to discuss mechanisms to promote a peaceful solution to the conflict settlement, and that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will address the issue during his June 5-6 visit to Tbilisi.
Mikhail Akulov, vice president of Russian rail monopoly Russian Railways, told reporters on Wednesday that rail track repairs in Abkhazia were necessary in view of the Olympic facilities being built in the southern Russian resort of Sochi with Abkhaz support.
He said Russian and Georgian railway workers had examined the one-track section in 2005. "I believe this is a continuation of efforts made by Russian and Georgian railway workers at that time," he said.
