Russian FM Downplays Dispute Ahead Of Georgia Visit

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Feb 17 2005

17 February 2005 — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
today that he hopes his visit to Georgia will not be hindered by
his rejection of an invitation to visit a monument related to a
separatist conflict.

Georgia has downgraded the trip from an official, to a working,
visit because Lavrov will not lay a wreath at a monument dedicated
to Georgians who died fighting separatists in Abkhazia and South
Ossetia. Both regions have close Russian ties.

Lavrov, speaking to Russian journalists in Armenia today, said Russia
has a role as a mediator and it would be too “emotionally loaded”
for him to make such a gesture. He arrived in Georgia today.

He added that the conflict, in his words, “cost the lives of innocent
people on all sides.”

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili criticized the decision
as unfriendly and inappropriate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress