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RIA Novosti
The peoples of Russia and Georgia, there is a request for normalization and the restoration of relations, said the head of the international Committee of the Federation Council of Russia Konstantin Kosachev on Tuesday at a meeting with representatives of the faction “Alliance of patriots of Georgia”, headed by its Chairman George Lomia.
“Recently, contacts at parliamentary level were frozen. I’m sure this is an error that must be corrected,” — said Kosachev.
He stressed that the countries are neighbors, “I’m sure our people are ready to restore relations with each other”. The Senator noted that in such situations the parliamentary diplomacy is ready to find some window of opportunity to restore relations.
“Public demand for the normalization of relations between the countries exist. We as parliamentarians should focus not on the political situation, and the needs of the people”, — said the head of the Federation Council Committee.
He also noted that the Federation Council speaker Valentina Matvienko was the opportunity to talk with his Georgian counterpart in the framework of the international meeting in Turkmenistan. “But this is an exception to the rule,” said the Senator.
Kosachev also noted with satisfaction that economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is not in place.
In turn, Lamia stressed that the ex-President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili being in power, did everything to make relations between the two countries at an impasse.
“Unfortunately, our party is the only one in Parliament who understands that without dialogue with Russia, Abkhazia to break the deadlock impossible. But in Georgia this step (visit to Moscow) received a hostile reception,” said Georgian Deputy.
During the meeting, parliamentarians from Georgia expressed concern that residents are unable to visit the graves of their loved ones who are in the Tskhinvali region. They discussed the issue of visa to Russia.