zurab-abashidze

Zurab Abashidze is Georgia’s representative at the meetings. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Zurab Abashidze, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Relations with Russia, will meet with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin on 4 or 5 June in Prague.

This will be the third meeting between Abashidze and Karasin since the change of government in Georgia after the parliamentary election in October, 2012. Their meetings have so far led to an agreement about allowing Georgian products back to the Russian market.

A few days ago, Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry informed that Karasin and Abashidze had a phone conversation about the details of the next meeting. Abashidze then told DF Watch that he hopes one of the topics at the next meeting will be how to simplify visa rules with Georgia.

On Tuesday, as he attended the 83rd Rose Roth Seminar of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly, Abashidze said that at the next meeting the parties will discuss what they have achieved during these six months. They will also talk about the plans to make it simpler to obtain a visa for Russia for certain categories of people.

Abashidze said he spoke about their achievements during the seminar, first of all about returning Georgian wine and mineral water back on the Russian market.

He said that certain transport hindrances will also be solved.

“I mean the Kazbegi-Larsi check-point, which will start functioning 24 hours from June 1. This is necessary so that our export has the shortest route to Russia,” he added.