Russia is ready to expand ties with Georgia in different areas, but "not at the cost of betrayal" of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This was stated by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking today at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to the Russian minister, "this will never happen."
"Now the new government in Georgia is pragmatic, showing the interest in the further development of economic relations - they have never stopped entirely - in energy, in other areas, in the development of human relations, air service which also exists. We are ready to develop cooperation in these areas, but not at the cost of betrayal of our brothers in South Ossetia and Abkhazia ", - said Lavrov.
"We, in fact, have never lost interest in the people of Georgia, they are our closest neighbors and brotherly nation; we feel a great mutual attraction in cultural and humanitarian sphere. We were not going to isolate ourselves from the Georgian people, or to isolate the Georgian people, but the regime of Saakashvili decided to break off our diplomatic relations, "- said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On the request of the Diplomatic Academy student from South Ossetia to confirm that there is no danger to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Lavrov has said that he considered "strange such kind of a question."
