Russia seeks to mend Georgia ties

Russia's newly-returned ambassador to Georgia has said Moscow wants to normalise its relations with Tbilisi. Speaking in the Georgian capital, Vyacheslav Kovalenko said such a move was "very much in Russia's interests".

The Kremlin recalled Mr Kovalenko in October after Georgia had deported four Russian soldiers it accused of spying. The deportation triggered a furious diplomatic row, with Moscow imposing economic sanctions against its neighbour and deporting Georgians.

Mr Kovalenko said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "told me that Russia was very interested in normalising the relationship with Georgia and establishing neighbourly relations". He said "there is no Georgiaphobia in Russia," amid media reports that Georgian nationals were often targeted in Russia.

The Russian ambassador had to return to Georgia via neighbouring Armenia, because Moscow had closed its transport links with Tbilisi.

He said this was the issue he would discuss with the Georgian authorities in the nearest future.

Gas deal

Last week, President Putin said the return of the envoy would be a step towards normalising relations. He said the first step had been made last December when Georgia agreed to pay more for Russian gas, ending a dispute over pricing between the two countries.

From 1 January Georgia has been paying $235 per 1,000 cubic metres, up from $110. Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili welcomed the return of the ambassador. "Tbilisi hopes for further steps from Russia aimed at the establishment of fully-fledged and mutually respectful relations with Georgia," Mr Bezhuashvili said.

But he said last week that Tbilisi would block Russia from joining the World Trade Organisation unless Georgian products are allowed back into Russia. Relations between the two countries have been strained since Georgia's pro-Western government came to power three years ago.

BBC