RUSSIA PINS HOPE ON ‘PRAGMATIC POLITICIANS’ IN GEORGIA
RIA Novosti
March 5, 2010
Moscow
Moscow said on Friday it linked the improvement of soured relations
with Tbilisi to ‘realistically minded’ political figures in Georgia.
The statement came in the wake of a Thursday meeting in Moscow between
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and one of Georgia’s opposition
leaders, Nino Burdzhanadze.
The statement said Russia and Georgia need to search for a way out
of the impasse in their relations, which "is key to peace in the
Trans-Caucasus."
Moscow stressed that it linked the restoration of relations "with
those political figures in Georgia who take a realistic view of the
current situation in the region."
The ministry said various aspects of "the current complex state of
Russian-Georgian relations" were discussed and that "despite the
ongoing crisis and the absence of diplomatic relations between Russia
and Georgia, it is essential to search for a way out of this impasse."
Burdzhanadze also met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The former speaker of the Georgian parliament, once an ally of
President Mikheil Saakashvili, came to Moscow for talks with Russian
political leaders, saying that such dialogue was crucial for Georgia.
Burdzhanadze is one of a growing number of Georgian opposition leaders
seeking to start political dialogue between Russia and Georgia, calling
it crucial for Georgia’s future. Former Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Nogaideli has visited Moscow several times in recent months.
However, Georgian parliamentary deputies loyal to Saakashvili have
already accused Burdzhanadze of "treason" over her Moscow visit.