23 January 2003 00:00
RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY VLADIMIR RUSHAILO MEETS WITH HEAD OF THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT NINO BURDZHANADZE
2003-01-22-001
On January 21 Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Vladimir Rushailo met in the Kremlin with Head of the Georgian Parliament Nino Burdzhanadze.
The sides discussed a broad range of questions pertaining to bilateral relations between Russia and Georgia, as well as international and regional security problems.
Touching on the most acute questions in Russian-Georgian relations, Rushailo stressed that "Russia's line on developing full-scale cooperation with Georgia in all areas remains invariable."
Discussing in the context of the fight against international terrorism the situation in the Pankisi Gorge, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council expressed confidence that "a full implementation by the Georgian side of the highest-level agreements on the combating of terrorism reached in Chisinau, as well as of the UN antiterrorist resolutions will be helpful in restoring trust and strengthening the mutual understanding between our countries."
Speaking of counteraction against the terrorist menace as a whole, Rushailo and Burdzhanadze touched on the question of increasing the coordination of law enforcement agencies, special services and border structures of Russia and Georgia, and in this regard, they noted the identity of their countries' positions in determining the near-term aims and concrete tasks in the struggle against terrorists.
The Secretary of the Russian Security Council and the Head of the Georgian Parliament discussed the problem of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, the settlement of which, in the sides' opinion, affects many aspects not only of the internal political life in Georgia, but also Russian-Georgian relations. Rushailo expressed confidence that the problems dividing Tbilisi and Sukhumi can be solved on the basis of a compromise with the preservation of the territorial integrity of Georgia, on the one hand, and the ensuring of the lawful rights and interests of multinational Abkhazia, on the other.
The re-establishment of a common economic space, and the implementation of projects in which the Georgian and Abkhaz sides are interested, also, in the Russian side's view, will work for the easing of tensions.
Touching on the situation relating to an extension of the mandate of the CIS Collective Forces in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone after January 1, this year, Vladimir Rushailo noted that the presence of the CIS peacekeepers is a guarantee of relative stability in the zone of separation of the parties.
In the course of the meeting the sides discussed also trade, economic and military aspects of bilateral relations.
Rushailo and Burdzhanadze touched on the questions of the preparation of a Framework Treaty between Russia and Georgia, expressing the confidence that this document will help impart to Russian-Georgian relations the character of a genuinely long-term partnership.
The generally constructive dialogue held will, in the sides' view, help to find real ways for untying the knots and tangles in Russian-Georgian relations and will contribute to the restoration of mutual trust, which in recent years has been subjected to serious tests.
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