At a press conference on Russian foreign policy, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke about the future of Georgian-Russian relations. He says he is planning an official visit to Georgia on February 18 to discuss these issues.

In this context, Lavrov recalls an agreement, negotiations for which have been delayed several months already. “Negotiations are planned with Georgia about many issues of bilateral relations. This will help us to speed up the process on this agreement,” Lavrov states. He also says that during his visit to Georgia he will discuss the issue of reforming the Georgia infrastructure to establish antiterrorist centers, including Russian military bases.

At the January 19 conference Lavrov also commented the issue of Pankisi Gorge.

“This region of Georgia has been the cause of our worries for many years already. Cooperation between Russian and Georgian border services has become more organized recently and this has led to some positive results, but the problem still exists. Cooperation in this sphere must continue, however, so that Pankisi does not become a haven or recreation zone for terrorists,” Lavrov declares.

Apart from this, Lavrov acknowledges that the OSCE mission this region has been blocked by Russia. He claims, however, that this action of Russia must not be considered a “political diversion.” “The OSCE mission has cost 15 million Dollars thus far. It would be better and more effective for Georgia if this sum were spent for strengthening of border services,” Lavrov states. He is probably aware of the fact that the OSCE does not finance the border services elsewhere and is not likely to do so in the future.

Sergey Lavrov will visit Yerevan before coming to Georgia. There he will discuss the issue of railway traffic between Armenia and Russia, which is naturally a concern in Georgian-Russian relations, as well.

“In developing relations with Georgia, we hope it will be possible to settle the issue of railway traffic with Armenia,” Lavrov states.