The Russian Foreign Ministry has responded to the statement of Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili made on March 9.

“Moscow carefully reviewed the March 9 statement by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. We are pleased to see the intention to continue and expand the process of normalization of bilateral relations. There should be no doubt that Russia has always been interested in improving relations with neighboring Georgia and is ready to move forward as much as Tbilisi is ready.

Giorgi Kvirikshvili’s aspiration to make progress in the Geneva International Discussions raises hopes for the constructiveness of the Georgian side within the next round of negotiations, scheduled for March.

We are convinced that such approach will be supported by other participants of the negotiation regardless of who will lead the Georgian delegation in Geneva.

It is impossible not to hail the declared desire of Georgian side to hold direct dialogue with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is the only way to deal with the issues that Georgia is worried about and which are beyond the Russian-Georgian bilateral agenda. In particular, this also concerns the recent regrettable incident in connection with Georgian citizen Archil Tatunashvili, “- the statement of Russian Foreign Ministry reads.

Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili addressed the highest authorities of the Russian Federation on March 9.