Kaladze Responds Positively to Lavrov's Statement on 'Normalizing' Relations
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, September 30, 2024
Kakha Kaladze, General Secretary of the Georgian Dream party, has stated that the government views Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent comments on "normalizing" relations between Georgia, Abkhazia, and Tskhinvali positively.
At a press conference, Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to assist these regions in establishing better relations, provided there is mutual interest from the involved parties. In his statement, Lavrov referred to the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as "neighbors" of Georgia.
Kaladze's comments were disseminated by his press service. He emphasized that the Georgian government appreciates Lavrov's remarks, stating, "Our government positively evaluates this statement. It's encouraging that Russia welcomes and supports reconciliation." However, he stressed the importance of translating these statements into concrete actions.
He elaborated, "With these statements, it would be good to take some actionable steps already. For example, it would be beneficial to develop a plan to withdraw Russian military forces from our occupied territories."
Kaladze highlighted the Georgian government's commitment to reconciliation with the Ossetian people, emphasizing that peace and mutual forgiveness are essential for restoring territorial integrity. "Only through peace and mutual forgiveness can we restore our territorial integrity and live together," Kaladze said.
