This is the conclusion that Russian and Georgian researchers came to on December 14-15, 2013 during the second expert meeting in Tbilisi organized by the International Center on Conflicts and Negotiations (ICCN, Georgia) together with the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).
During the meeting, Russian and Georgian experts discussed the prospects for and problems of political and economic cooperation between Russia and Georgia. Despite the existing political controversy concerning the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both sides stressed that the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries has been only partially realized. In particular, in Russia there is a demand for the Georgian agricultural produce, which is not matched by the Georgian supply.
This is the conclusion that Russian and Georgian researchers came to on December 14-15, 2013 during the second expert meeting in Tbilisi organized by the International Center on Conflicts and Negotiations (ICCN, Georgia) together with the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).
During the meeting, Russian and Georgian experts discussed the prospects for and problems of political and economic cooperation between Russia and Georgia. Despite the existing political controversy concerning the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both sides stressed that the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries has been only partially realized. In particular, in Russia there is a demand for the Georgian agricultural produce, which is not matched by the Georgian supply.
The Russian side was represented by RIAC Program Director Ivan Timofeev, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Applied Analysis of International Problems at MGIMO-University Andrey Sushentsov, Senior Research Associate of the Center for Research on the Caucasus and Regional Security at MGIMO-University Nikolai Silayev and RIAC Program Coordinator Alexander Eliseev.
The Georgian side was represented by ICCN Executive Director Maya Katsitadze, ICCN Program Manager Nino Kizikurashvili, Member of the Georgian Parliament Georgiy Zhorzholiani, Advisor to the rector of Tbilisi State University Irakliy Murtskhvaladze, lecturer at Tbilisi State University Levan Gigineishvili, Associate Professor at Tbilisi State University, psychologist Bela Arutinova, Director of the Georgian Center of Population Research Irina Badurashvili and representative of the Russian-Georgian project in Russia of the ICCN, RIAC blogger Leila Machavariani. The First Secretary of the Swiss Embassy in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan Kevin Christian Tait also participated in the event.
The RIAC together with the ICCN continues to work on the joint project devoted to the Russian-Georgian relations. The main aim of the project is to formulate practical recommendations for the political leaders of the two countries in order to develop bilateral relations. Publication of a working paper on Russian-Georgian cooperation is scheduled for 2014 as part of the above mentioned project.
See more at ICCN website.
