MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The Georgian community in Russia plans to lobby for measures aimed at restoring cultural and business cooperation between Russia and Georgia, Union of Georgians in Russia president Mikhail Khubutia told Interfax on Friday.

"I am speaking about a revival of cultural, athletic and scientific ties. Serious work is underway on these issues at the moment," Khubutia said.

Business cooperation is one of the priority issues being discussed today, he said. "The Georgian diaspora is now speaking about bringing business into Georgia. We want our business to be represented in Georgia," he added.

Khubutia said during a TV link-up between Moscow and Tbilisi on Friday that senior Russian and Georgian officials have been invited to a congress of the Union of Georgians in Russia scheduled for February 2.

"We want to create an atmosphere that would make it possible to bridge the gap between the two leaderships. But it does not mean that our congress will see some political friction," he said.