president:Georgia to seriously consider Putin's remarks on ties

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili said on Monday his administration would seriously consider Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks on bilateral ties, which were cut off after a 2008 war. "Georgian-Russian relations are one of the most painful and problematic for the Georgian state," said Margvelashvili. "We'll make very serious and scrupulous analyses of his remark, hold consultations and form our position." "If there is a possibility of giving a positive impetus to the Georgian-Russian relations, if there is serious readiness to discuss very problematic topics, of course there is foundation to talk over these issues with our counterparts, (we will) have consultations inside the country and also with the Western colleagues and consider such meetings," he said. Putin described Georgia's participation in the Sochi Olympics as "a very good sign" to regulate bilateral relations, Georgian reporters covering the ongoing Sochi Winter Olympics reported. "We're very happy that Georgia's team arrived for the Sochi Olympics," said Putin, adding that the decision to participate is a step forward in regulating bilateral ties. Putin also told reporters that the Tbilisi-Sochi flights would be kept after the Olympics. "You know that Tbilisi-Sochi regular flights have been taking place. We have decided to preserve this practice after the Olympics," he said. Georgian airways Airzena started to operate the twice-a-week Tbilisi-Sochi flights on Feb. 4. Georgia sent three alpine skiers and one figure skater to Sochi for the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. Georgia and Russia broke their diplomatic relations in August 2008 after they fought a five-day war over South Ossetia.