Russia sends back envoy; Georgia ties strained

Tbilisi, Jan 23: Russia's ambassador to Georgia was returning to his post today after a four-month absence but Moscow and Tbilisi cautioned there was a long way to go before their turbulent relations were back on an even keel.

The Kremlin withdrew ambassador Vyacheslav Kovalenko in early October after Tbilisi deported four Russian soldiers for spying and triggered a furious diplomatic row that led Moscow to cut transport links with its ex-Soviet neighbour.

Some commentators saw the return of the envoy -- ordered back to Tbilisi by President Vladimir Putin last week -- as a sign the Kremlin might be preparing to lift its sanctions.

That, though, may be premature since underlying problems remain. Russia is unhappy at Georgia's pro-Western policies, its anti-Kremlin rhetoric and growing defence spending, while Tbilisi believes Russia is backing separatists on its territory.

''Any positive attempt to return Georgian-Russian relations to their normal course can be only welcomed,'' said Nino Burjanadze, speaker of Georgia's parliament and an ally of pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili.

''But complex steps are needed for the normalisation of the relationship,'' she said.

The head of the International Affairs Committee in Russia's parliament, whose views frequently reflect those of the Kremlin, echoed that view.

''The return of the ambassador is a signal that we are ready for an improvement in relations,'' Konstantin Kosachyov told Reuters.

''(But) the main thing is to stop the constant rhetoric directed at Russia and the constant blaming of Russia for Georgia's domestic problems.'' ''As long as the Georgian leadership sees the hand of Russia behind each of its domestic problems then nothing can move forward, that is absolutely clear, regardless of where our ambassador is,'' he said.

'Soft Ethnic Cleansing'

Kovalenko was making his way back to Tbilisi via neighbouring Armenia, because Russia had closed all road, rail and air links with Georgia. He was expected to arrive in the Georgian capital late yesterday or today.

Dozens gathered outside the closed gates of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tbilisi yesterday in the hope the envoy's return would mean an end to the ban on issuing travel visas to Georgians.

Hundreds of Georgians living in Russia were deported in the wake of the spying row. Tbilisi accused Moscow of a ''soft form of ethnic cleansing''.

The Georgian delegation to rights watchdog the Council of Europe made a report on the deportations today but the body voted to defer further discussion until April.

Even before the spy row, Moscow had banned imports of Georgian wine and mineral water. Both exports are vital to the Georgian economy and Russia was their biggest market.

Russian state gas giant Gazprom also put up the price Tbilisi pays for gas to 235 dollar per 1,000 cubic metres -- the highest price paid by any ex-Soviet republic.

Russia said the wine and water ban was because of public health concerns while Gazprom said the price hike had nothing to do with politics.

In Tbilisi, however, the measures were interpreted as the Kremlin punishing its former satellite for its push to pull out of Russia's orbit and join NATO and the European Union.

Georgian and Russian trade negotiators meet in Geneva today to discuss one other irritant in their relations, diplomats from both sides said.

Tbilisi has threatened to veto Russia's entry to the World Trade Organisation, alleging Russia is not adequately controlling the flow of people and goods across its border with Georgia.

Reuters