HYDERABAD, Oct 19: Russian Consul General in Karachi Vladmir V. Selivstov and head of the Karachi branch of Russian Trade Commission, Mr Vitaly Glinkin, on Thursday held an informal meeting with office-bearers of the Institute of International Affairs at the office of its secretary general, Mr Saleem Shaikh.

The diplomats were presented with traditional Sindhi Ajraks and caps by Mr Shaikh, Syed Mohammad Hussain and M. Parkash advocate.

Taking to Dawn, the consul general said that he was visiting Hyderabad at the invitation of the Fateh Group of Industries which had long standing relations with Russian entrepreneurs. He said that the Fateh Group was importing spare parts and tractors from Belarus and exporting fabrics and sports goods to Russia.

He said that he had also come to visit the motorcycle plant set up by the Fateh Group which had partnerships with the Russian companies.

The consul general said that he considered Fateh Group as a flagship of trade relations between Russia and Pakistan.

Replying to a question about the volume of trade between Russia and Pakistan, the head of the Russian Trade Commission in Pakistan said that it amounted to 300 million dollars last year which was likely to increase to 400 million dollars this year. He said that the trade between the two countries was on the rise.

The consul-general said that the discussions were going on at the governmental level on the trade debit and credit and that the matter would be hopefully resolved soon.

Replying to a question on the Georgian issue, the consul general said that it was a complicated matter, adding that the Georgian president had ordered the arrest of four Russian officers who were deployed there for peace-keeping.

He said that this had created a grave situation.

He said that while the Russian Federation had expressed its willingness to negotiate, the issue had been unnecessarily publicised by Georgia.

He said that there was no doubt that the close relationship existed between the people of Georgia and Russia as they had lived together for 200 years.

“I love Georgia and its people”, the diplomat said and added that hopefully the controversy between the two countries would be resolved soon.