SOCHI. March 7 (Intrefax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow's position on the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict remains unchanged.
The problem "should be resolved with the territorial integrity of Georgia maintained and with the lawful rights and interests of multinational Abkhazia secured," Putin said after meeting with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze on Friday.
In resolving the issue, top priority will be given to the safe return of refugees to the Gali district, Putin said. After the return of refugees, railway communication between Sochi and Tbilisi will be started and the Inguri Hydroelectric Plant and other hydrotechnical facilities will be opened.
Putin also said that if Georgia and Abkhazia resume negotiations, it will relieve tensions in the Caucasus.
Putin said the discussion had touched upon Russian-Georgian cooperation on counterterrorism. The special services of the two countries have considerable experience in this area, he said.
"Common approaches have been found with the Russian president to issues that can be resolved at this time," Shevardnadze said.
"In the first place, we are talking about returning refugees, resuming railway communication, the restoration of the Inguri Hydroelectric Plant and, in the future, economic assistance in foreign capital and other projects that were developed under the Soviets," the Georgian leader said.
Shevardnadze also said Russia and Georgia have to make one more important step: to speed up and complete work on the Russian- Georgian framework agreement.
Putin told Shevardnadze about the plans for Russia's integration with Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. "As to the economic integration of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan, it is a project of great interest to Georgia. In the future, we will find a formula to work with this 'great four,'" Shevardnadze said.
Putin said he had met with representatives of Abkhazia during these negotiations.