Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed optimism today regarding future relations between Russia and Georgia.
"I am sure that everything will be fine. Our peoples have never quarreled," Medvedev said in an interview for the international television channel RT (Russia today), broadcast on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Russian-Georgian conflict.
Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia after the armed conflict in August 2008, after Moscow recognized the independence of the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russia and Georgia, with the mediation of the EU, signed a cease-fire on August 15.
Medvedev said that there is no deep conflict between the two nations, but "a mistake that was turned into a crime" by certain Georgian leaders. The Russian Prime Minister said that the saddest part of bilateral relations has become history and will gradually fade away.
Russia, Medvedev added, has not broken ties with Georgia and is ready to restore relations, provided that Tbilisi can admit what happened. According to him, relations between Georgia and the two breakaway territories will ultimately depend on the will of the people who live there.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Moscow is satisfied with Georgia's efforts to resolve bilateral relations and is ready to expand trade, cultural, humanitarian and sports cooperation.
Bonus video:
