Putin orders Russian government to normalize relations with Georgia

April 18, 2008 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed government officials to normalize relations with neighboring Georgia, two days after Russia's decision to establish ties with the separatist Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 
According to the Russian foreign ministry, Putin ordered authorities to hold talks with Georgia aimed at lifting bans on Georgian imports of wine and mineral water, which were banned in 2006. He also ordered the renewal of postal ties with Georgia and an end to visa restrictions. These sanctions were also imposed on Georgia in 2006, after Georgia arrested four Russian servicemen on charges of spying. 
"The federal authorities have been assigned to take steps to lift the remaining visa restrictions for Georgian nationals, to speed up the restoration of border crossing at Verkhniy Larc, and to begin bilateral consultations at the experts' level on the issues of access for Georgian goods on the Russian market," said Mikhail Kaminin, a spokesman for Russia's foreign ministry.
Putin orders Russian government to normalize relations with Georgia April 18 , 2008 Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed government officials to normalize relations with neighboring Georgia , two days after Russia 's decision to establish ties with the separatist Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia . According to the Russian foreign ministry , Putin ordered authorities to hold talks with Georgia aimed at lifting bans on Georgian imports of wine and mineral water , which were banned in 2006 . He also ordered the renewal of postal ties with Georgia and an end to visa restrictions . These sanctions were also imposed on Georgia in 2006 , after Georgia arrested four Russian servicemen on charges of spying . " The federal authorities have been assigned to take steps to lift the remaining visa restrictions for Georgian nationals , to speed up the restoration of border crossing at Verkhniy Larc , and to begin bilateral consultations at the experts ' level on the issues of access for Georgian goods on the Russian market , " said Mikhail Kaminin , a spokesman for Russia 's foreign ministry .
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