Boris Lvin (bbb) wrote,
Boris Lvin
bbb

Грузия-Россия

ЛАВРОВ

Вопрос: Как Вы прокомментируете изменение формата Вашего визита в Грузию?

С.В.Лавров: Когда готовятся визиты, то программа согласовывается между двумя сторонами, в данном случае между двумя МИД, и она была согласована. Вчера утром, перед моим отъездом из Москвы наши грузинские коллеги предложили дополнить ее еще одним мероприятием, которое связано с посещением Мемориала павших за территориальное единство Грузии. Имеются в виду войны в Абхазии и Южной Осетии в начале 90-х годов. Россия внесла решающий вклад, чтобы остановить в то время эти войны, наладить механизмы урегулирования с участием сторон и в том, и в другом случае. Россия знает, сколько жизней унесли эти войны. Конечно, мы скорбим по тем грузинским ребятам, которые сложили головы, расплачиваясь за чужие решения о начале этой авантюры. Но мы также скорбим и по тем жертвам, которые понесли другие стороны. Я буду готов выразить в любой форме эту свою скорбь, свое сопереживание. Надеюсь это сделать, когда посещу могилу З.Жвании, который приложил столько усилий, чтобы не допустить отхода от исключительно мирного урегулирования обоих этих конфликтов. Вот собственно и все. Какого-то отхода от протокольной практики здесь нет. Как я уже сказал, программа визита всегда согласовывается между сторонами и является продуктом их договоренности. В данном случае мы никаких договоренностей не нарушали. Мы объяснили нашим грузинским коллегам те причины, по которым Россия, к тому же являясь посредником в урегулировании абхазского и югоосетинского конфликтов, просила сохранить формат программы визита в том виде, в каком он был согласован. Наши грузинские коллеги, как мне показалось, поняли это и изменили формат с официального на рабочий, сохранив в программе те пункты, которые были ранее согласованы. Я здесь не вижу, честно говоря, каких-либо причин для нездорового ажиотажа. Это рабочий момент и причины, по которым мы просили сохранить программу в прежнем виде должны быть, по-моему, понятны всем.


http://www.ln.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/fa711a859c4b939643256999005bcbbc/5b024d7e9fe8001bc3256fac00434e40

ЗУРАБИШВИЛИ

Question: As it is known, a change was introduced in the format of the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to Georgia. What kind of problems arose and what is Mr. Lavrov’s reaction to this?

S. Zourabichvili: There has been no precedent in the history of diplomacy, when a country receiving an official invitation does not abide by the rules of the international protocol. However, as a representative of Russia informs us the Minister refused to lay a wreath at the memorial of Georgia’s fallen soldiers, which is an accepted form of paying homage in any country. I myself have been on my official visits and I know it is necessary to show respect and honour for the rules of the country to which you go as a guest, especially when it comes down to the relations between two friendly nations. It is not only an accepted but also necessary form of expressing esteem. We think this is a non-neighbourly and inadequate gesture by the Russian side, which we will not forget. Despite this fact we do not intend to further escalate the situation, since it is necessary to continue dialogues. We will receive the Russian Foreign Minister within the frames of a working visit, instead of an official one. This is our position at the moment and I think I have nothing more to say about it.

Question: Is it expected to postpone Mr. Lavrov’s visit?

Answer: I don’t want to offer any prognosis. On my part, I am ready to receive my colleague since there is a great number of issues to discuss. I have concrete suggestions for him as to how to set on the path of normalization. But if the visit is postponed none of this will happen. From our side, there is neither prognosis, nor any step taken in this direction, nor any information.

Question: (not heard for technical reasons):

Answer: During the talks we posed this question quite distinctly, which is prescribed by the protocol as well. Visit is either official with its appropriate components or non-official. Choice can be automatically made between these two forms and it is not something of which Lavrov learned afterwards and expressed his reaction. Generally, visit can be either official and include all components or non-official and not include all components. It is a normal choice, which is made in every country. But saying that the choice in the given situation was made in response to Lavrov’s refusal to lay a wreath at the memorial of Georgia’s fallen soldiers is something morally and ethically unacceptable in relations between the neighbourly countries. I can’t understand it.

Question: (not heard for technical reasons)

Answer: If it is deliberate tactics of canceling the visit and place a blame on us, this tactics does not work anywhere and besides, it will lay bare what happened and why. I want to stress once more that we are ready to hold talks in a normal manner. However, the importance of what happened should not be minimized as it is not part of normal relations and adds further to the steps, which give rise to a very big question mark and highly unpredictable relations with Russia. We don’t know what is the intention of Russia, the country, which sends its representative for the normalization of relations and has not an elementary understanding of ethical principles to show respect for the fallen soldiers.

Question: Is Lavrov’s visit expected to improve Georgian-Russian relations?

Answer: Proceeding from what I’ve just said, I can’t make any prognosis. I can only stress repeatedly that I have been and am still ready to put forward my concrete suggestions for the solution of the problematic issues, as to how to take concrete steps forward, of course if there is any desire of it. I don’t know whether the Russian side has such desire or whether Lavrov will bring us any answer to it or not. Thank you.


http://www.mfa.gov.ge/news.php?newsid=updates/EEplyFlAuyWVNbVsom.php
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