Lavrov: Russia is ready to normalize relations with Georgia

Moscow is ready for the normalization of relations with Tbilisi to the extent that Georgia is prepared, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his year-end interview with TASS, Report informs.

"We are determined to normalize Russian-Georgian relations precisely to the extent that Tbilisi is ready," Lavrov stated.

Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia on September 2, 2008, due to the latter's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. With the severing of diplomatic relations, the foreign ministry of Georgia announced that it will maintain solely consular relations with Russia.