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Russia upset with Georgia’s refusal to restore diplomatic ties

12 March 2012 17:42 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Russia is disappointed by Georgia’s refusal to restore diplomatic relations and introduce a visa-free regime, the Foreign Ministry said Monday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to Maria Zakharova, deputy director of the ministry’s media department, Georgia again set conditions for restoring ties -- that Russia should cancel its formal recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"So Tbilisi is not going to reconsider its decision about breaking diplomatic ties with Russia in September 2008," Zakharova told reporters here, adding that Georgia’s refusal was "not surprising."

Moscow said Georgia had offered a visa-free regime to nearly 100 countries on a unilateral basis but refused to discuss the agreement with Russia.

Moscow and Tbilisi have been at odds over the status of Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moscow recognized their independence in August 2008 following a brief armed conflict with Georgia.

In response, Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia.

On March 2, the Russian Foreign Ministry offered to restore diplomatic ties and scrap visa requirements for Georgian citizens.