February 19, 2010

Kazakhstan has been offered existing ports as well as a planned new port by Georgia for the construction of a terminal for grain exports to Europe.

Georgian foreign minister Grigol Vashadze said they are offering several possibilities, such as Batumi, Poti and Anaklia, where they plan to build a new port, and that it is up to Kazakhstan to consider transit shipments through Georgia.

Kazakhstan terminated plans in to construct storage for 350,000 tonnes of grain at the port of Poti in September 2008 because of Georgia's war with Russia. Poti was attacked and damaged during the five-day conflict over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.

Kazakhstan's foreign minister Kanat Saudabayev said they want stability, predictability in Georgia, and in other transit countries.