MOSCOW, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The Russian government wants to talk with top Georgian officials during an upcoming international meeting, a Russian official says.
Russian Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mikhail Margelov said his country would like to use the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session Sept. 29-Oct. 3 to meet with representatives from the neighboring country, RIA Novosti said Thursday.
Margelov said the international talks wouldn't involve "plans to challenge Georgia's authority."
RIA Novosti said the foreign affairs official also spoke about a proposal supported by 24 PACE members that calls for Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe, calling the proposal a "provocation."
"We believe this is a provocation, not just against the Russian delegation, Russia's parliament and Russian people, but against the Council of Europe," Margelov said.
"If a decision is made to suspend the powers of the (Russian) delegation, I will recommend to the government not to remain in the Council of Europe," he added.
