“If Russia wants normal, diplomatic relations with Georgia, then it must withdraw troops from the occupied territories and recognise Georgia’s territorial integrity,” the Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, MP Nikoloz Samkharadze, has stated.

According to him, it is in the Georgian state’s interest to achieve full de-occupation of the country’s territories and restoration of territorial integrity.

“The Georgian government has a firmly stated policy that until Georgia’s territories are de-occupied, until Russia withdraws its occupation forces from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, there will be no diplomatic relations or political dialogue with Russia whatsoever.

Regarding the statement by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claiming this is a continuation of Saakashvili-era policy, I would say it is neither a continuation of Saakashvili’s, nor Shevardnadze’s, nor anyone else’s policy. It is in the Georgian state’s interest to achieve full de-occupation of the country’s territories and restoration of territorial integrity. Russia is obstructing this process; Russia is the occupier which has occupied Georgia’s territories.

Accordingly, if Russia wants normal diplomatic relations with Georgia, then it must withdraw its troops and recognise territorial integrity. This is our answer, which has been well known in Russia for a long time,” stated Nikoloz Samkharadze.

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared that Russia is not prepared to resume political dialogue with Georgia on Georgia’s terms. According to them, “Russia’s decision to recognise the independence of the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is irreversible”.