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Russia regrets Georgia's decision to sever diplomatic relations

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-29 23:13

TBILISI - Georgia is recalling its diplomatic staff in Russia and cutting its diplomatic ties with Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said on Friday.

Vashadze said the government is implementing a parliament resolution passed a day earlier, which included a call for the government to sever diplomatic ties with Russia, news agency Caucasus Press reported.

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The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed regret at Georgia's decision to cut diplomatic relations with Russia, the Itar-Tass news agency reported Friday.

"We regret that the Georgian side has taken this step," the ministry's spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.

"The possible end of diplomatic relations with Georgia is not the choice of Moscow, and Tbilisi will have to bear the entire responsibility," said the diplomat.

"We must maintain contacts in the sphere of interests of average citizens," he said, adding that it will take a lot of efforts to restore bilateral relations.