GEORGIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET RUSSIAN COUNTERPART IN MOSCOW

RIA Novosti, Russia
October 30, 2006

TBILISI, October 30 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia’s foreign minister
will meet with his Russian counterpart in Moscow at a session of an
economic alliance of Black Sea countries, to be held November 1-2,
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The 11-member Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization comprises
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Gela Bezhuashvili’s talks with Russia’s Sergei Lavrov come in the midst
of an intense diplomatic standoff between the ex-Soviet neighbors,
which has led several countries to urge the sides to ease tensions
before the situation gets out of control.

The crisis began when Georgia detained four Russian officers last
month, and accused them of spying. Russia responded by suspending
postal and travel links with Georgia, shutting down casinos and
restaurants owned by Georgians, and deporting hundreds of Georgians
who had allegedly been living in the country illegally.