How should we conduct the coverage of international conflicts, and what do we need to know about diplomacy and the Georgia-Russia talks? These were the topics of the public lecture held at the Media Academy by the Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia for Relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze.

Speaking before an audience of media representatives, Mr. Abashidze addressed important issues such as the Georgian foreign policy, the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution, the challenges accompanying the Abashidze-Karasin talks, and the impact of these negotiations on the population of Georgian occupied territories. He also discussed the role of the media in the coverage of such sensitive and significant issues.

Apart from Georgian-Russian relations, Zurab Abashidze also talked about the prospects of Georgia’s membership in the European Union and NATO.

Zurab Abashidze held the position of Georgian Ambassador to Russia in 2000-2004. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Between 1993 and 2000, he was the Georgian Ambassador to the Benelux Countries and headed the Georgian Mission to the EU and NATO.

Zurab Abashidze is the author of the book NATO and Georgia: From Utopia to Reality.