Ilia II, the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, reiterated on December 16, that he had “positive agreements” with Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, which now needed “careful and diplomatic” follow up by the Georgian authorities.

“I had meeting with the President Medvedev in Moscow and we had quite positive and good agreements, but it needs continuation and it needs very careful and diplomatic approach and I think that our authorities will continue it and we will have results,” Ilia II said on December 16.

Speaking at the Georgian Academy of Science Ilia II also said that “a large Russian delegation” planned to visit Georgia to take part in a conference later this month. He said that Mikhail Shvidkoy, Russia’s former culture minister, would lead the delegation. Shvidkoy is now the Russian President’s special envoy for international cultural relations.

The Patriarch said upon his arrival back from Moscow on December 11 that the Georgian authorities should take an advantage of, as he put it, a positive momentum of his visit and continue a dialogue with Russia.