RUSSIAN VICE-SPEAKER: RUSSIA SHOULD NOT CARE FOR OTHERS. WE SHOULD DEFEND OUR INTERESTS
Author: R. Aghayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006

Vladimir Jirinovskiy, Vice-Speaker of the Russian Duma, distinguishing
with his own peculiar visage of many international processes, commented
on gas problems that Georgia and Armenia face, in the interview with
TREND SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT in Moscow

– Vladimir Wolfovich, Georgia has stated that starting from the next
year, they refuse to buy Russian gas at the price of $230 per 1.000
cubic meters. How could you comment it?

– Very nice, let them not buy anything – neither gas, nor anything
else from us until the day when they dismantle their museum of
occupation. I am for Russia suspending all ties with Georgia. We do
need any relations with this country. Let them head for Turkey, EU,
US, and exist the way they like. And we shall wait and see how they
begin spitting all over. They are not a country yet. They are just
supported and provided by other states. And everything comes from it.

Let us see, for example, yesterday they showed how they made a
poor-quality home brew wine. This is present Georgia.

– How do you think, could Georgia prohibit using its territory as a
transit for Russian gas, to Armenia, in particular, if the conflict
expands? How will Russia help Armenia in this case?

– Sure, they may do it. Let Armenians themselves think what to do.

Let them turn to their atomic power plant, and construct another power
block somewhere not far from Yerevan. That is their care. Why should
we care for and think about it?! Let every country itself care for
itself. And we shall advocate and defend Russian state interests.

And as to Georgia, it is a hazard, ballast, and abscess on our foot
in the Caucasus. Therefore, the faster they will go away from us,
the better it will be for us

– How do you think, when Russia will acknowledge the independence of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

– Russia might acknowledge it whenever it likes.

– And when it might happen?

– That will not happen in the near future. We should wait and see
how Kosovo is being handled, so we are not approached with the fact
that we destroy other states. Let them acknowledge Kosovo, and then
we shall do the same with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.