Russia to return envoy to Georgia

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Russia has announced it is sending its ambassador back to Georgia after recalling him last year during a diplomatic dispute.

Announcing the return, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country and Georgia had enjoyed a "special relationship" for centuries.

The row broke out in September when Georgia expelled four Russians it accused of spying.

Moscow then imposed economic sanctions and deported Georgian migrants.

Gas agreement

President Putin said the return of ambassador Vyacheslav Kovalenko to Tbilisi was a step towards normalising relations.

He said the first step had been made last December when Georgia agreed to pay more for Russian gas, ending a dispute over pricing between the two countries.

From 1 January Georgia has been paying $235 per 1,000 cubic metres, up from $110.

Georgia's Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili has welcomed Mr Putin's announcement and called for more co-operation.

But he has said Georgia will block Russia from joining the World Trade Organisation unless Georgian products are allowed back into Russia.

And he said relations between Moscow and Tbilisi must be based on "respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state and its international borders."

Relations between the two countries have been strained since Georgia's pro-Western government came to power three years ago.