MOSCOW, December 18 (Sputnik) – Russia is ready to further liberalize its market for Georgian goods, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
“We did what we were asked to do – to liberalize the delivery of Georgian goods to the Russian market. And we did it in response to Georgia’s decision not to impede Russia’s entry to WTO, despite our political disagreements… And we are ready to move in this direction in the future,” Putin said at a press conference.
All Senior Georgian Officials Welcome in Moscow
Russia will be glad to meet any senior official from Georgia in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
“If the Georgian leadership believes it is possible, we will be ready to meet any representative of the Georgian leadership, including the president and the prime minister, here in Moscow,” Putin said at his annual year-end conference.
Russian leader also stated that Georgian government should establish direct contacts and political dialogue with Abkhazia, South Ossetia, adding that Russia is ready to contribute to this process.
“These people should cooperate and Russia is ready to assist,” Putin said.
Following Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia. In Georgia, the regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia have the status of the occupied territories. The new Georgian government formed in 2012 called the normalization of relations with Russia one of its key priorities.
As part of normalization of relations between the countries, and as a response to Georgia’s decision not to impede Russia’s entry in WTO, Putin said that Russia is ready to further liberalize its market for Georgian goods.
“We did what we were asked to do – to liberalize the delivery of Georgian goods to the Russian market. And we did it in response to Georgia’s decision not to impede Russia’s entry to the WTO, despite our political disagreements… And we are ready to move in this direction in the future,” Putin said.
Since the 2008 conflict between the countries, Georgia has repeatedly blocked Russia’s WTO entry, but in 2011 the sides reached a compromise and signed a trade deal that allowed Russia to finally join the organization.
