They Want Historical Reconciliation: Lavrov

Russia is ready to assist Georgia in the normalization of relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a press conference dedicated to the High-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

According to kommersant.ru, he noted that Moscow is prepared to help if all parties are interested in reconciliation and ensuring the agreements on non-aggression.

“It is clear that the current leadership of Georgia is sincerely assessing the past. They said they 'want historical reconciliation.' The way and format of this reconciliation should be decided by the countries, both Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” Lavrov said.

Speaking at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili addressed the residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, calling for them to live “in one Georgian state.” He noted that Georgia must “restore all the broken bridges.”

In early September, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party, announced that if his party wins the elections, Tbilisi would find the strength to apologize to the Ossetians for the military conflict in 2008.