Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia may be restored, if there is an advancement in the normalization of relations between the two countries, Georgia's Special Representative for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze said on August 5.

"Our Russian colleagues are well aware that Georgia will not move towards the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia in this situation," Abashidze said. "This step of ours will be perceived by the rest of the world as our reconciliation with the new reality and the abandonment of those territories. Restoration of diplomatic relations may occur at some point, if the process of rehabilitation of relations with Russia sees any advancement, some progress is observed and major breakthroughs achieved."

Abashidze thinks that the countries have already passed the first stage, involving the solution of practical issues related to trade, transport and economic relations.

"Perhaps, we will be able to move on to the second stage in September-October as we have to start discussion of more serious issues. This process will not be completed quickly. We have always stressed and now we are stressing that it will be a long and complicated process," Georgia's Special Representative said.

Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.