Russian president Vladimir Putin talked about Russia-Georgia relations and said the following:
“We see positive signals – so far very modest, but anyway positive signals coming from Georgia’s new leadership. Not only we see that a special representative of the Georgian government for relations with Russia has been appointed, but we also welcome it,” Putin said and added that Moscow reciprocated and tasked Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin to hold talks with Georgian PM’s special envoy Zurab Abashidze; the two diplomats met in Switzerland on December 14.
“Russia cannot revoke its decision related to recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We cannot do it, in principle. And Georgia cannot agree to recognize their (Abkhazia, South Ossetia) independent status. I cannot imagine what can be done in this situation,” said Putin, adding “We really want to normalize relations with Georgia; however from the economic point of view, it should be said directly, Georgia is interested in it more than Russia is. We believe that the relations between the two very close peoples should be normalized; we should definitely strive for it”.