Georgian PM: Russia's suspension of free trade no big tragedy

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili on Thursday said Russia's plan to suspend its free trade with Georgia is not a big tragedy for the South Caucasus country.
"This is not a big tragedy. We will have a conversation and make a comment on it later," he told reporters. "In my opinion we will achieve an agreement."
His remarks came amid reports that the Russian side had made a draft plan about suspension of the free trade pact between Russia and Georgia. The two countries reached their free trade deal back in February of 1994.
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said while attending a military drill outside the Georgian capital city that the Russian move was a response to Georgia's increasingly close relations with the European Union.
As of 2013, Russia was Georgia's fourth largest trading partner, behind Turkey, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.