Relationship with Russia was one of the main issues discussed with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip H. Gordon, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said.

Zurab Abashidze, special representative for relations with Russia, also attended the meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister and the senior U.S. diplomat in Tbilisi on November 17.

“We explained Mr. Gordon what the appointment of special representative means and how Moscow has reacted on it; this second channel, which we want to open for the relations with Russia, does not mean that the Geneva [talks] will be changed or the Geneva process will be endangered,” Panjikidze told reporters after the meeting.

“On the contrary, the Geneva process is the most important forum, which we have for the relations with Russia and everything is being done to maintain this forum; this [appointment of special envoy] will be an additional channel to establish certain relationship [with Russia],” the Georgian Foreign Minister said.

After cutting diplomatic relations following the August, 2008 war, Georgia and Russia communicate mainly through Swiss diplomats.