Russian PM optimistic about ties with Georgia

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that he was optimistic about the future of Russia-Georgia relations. "I am a pure optimist here. I am sure everything will be fine. Our peoples have never quarrelled," Medvedev said in an interview with the Russia Today channel broadcasted on the even of the fifth anniversary of the conflict in Caucasus. Georgia cut off diplomatic relations with Russia after a brief armed conflict in August 2008 over the control of the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia insists on its sovereignty over the two regions and considers them as under Russian occupation. According to Medvedev, there was no deep conflict between the two peoples but rather "a mistake which developed into a crime" by certain Georgian leaders. Admitting there was "no return to the past," the prime minister said the most sad page in bilateral times became history and will fade away gradually. Meanwhile, he noted that Russia had not severed ties with Georgia and was ready to restore the relationship on condition that Tbilisi could recognize the fact of what had happened. As regards to Georgia's relations with the two breakaway regions, Medvedev said "everything will depend on the will of the peoples living in those territories." Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was satisfied with Tbilisi's efforts to solve bilateral issues and was ready to expand trade, cultural, humanitarian and sports contact between the two sides.