Tbilisi/09.08.13/Turan-BSPRESS: Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in his interview with TV channel "Rustavi-2" commented on the 5th anniversary of the Russian aggression against Georgia. He said the war was stopped due to the efforts of international diplomacy and the "U.S. Sixth Fleet. ».
"Diplomacy and the U.S. Sixth Fleet stopped Russia."
"They wanted to take Tbilisi, and told Condoleezza Rice (former U.S. Secretary of State) about it. So the Americans offered me evacuation," Saakashvili said.
"We live in the 21st century, and the Georgian people, as previously, should make a choice. If the Georgian nation is willing to give up an important part of its territory, to abandon development and hope for the future, to give up its internal choice, then of course, there are many opportunities to improve relations with Russia," Saakashvili said.
War with Russia could be avoided only if Georgia is not a state, said Saakashvili. He noted that he tried to prevent an escalation of tensions, up to a failure of integration into NATO and the strategic partnership with the United States.
"We said that we are ready to refuse the idea of joining NATO and refuse on the basis of agreement the progressive relations with the USA, if you ( Russia), in turn, will help in the progress of the issues of territories (the return of Abkhazia and South Ossetia back under Georgian jurisdiction), also on the basis of an agreement. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, without hesitation, replied that he "does not change territories on the geopolitical orientation," Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili said that in exchange for the return of refugees, Georgia was ready to legalize
Russia's economic interests in Gagra, Pitsunda and Sukhumi. Also, he said, it was proposed to legalize the use of the railway and open it in the direction of Armenia, but Moscow has refused.
The Georgian Defense Minister, Irakli Alasania, said that Georgia will join NATO, despite the attempts of Russia. -02D-
Politics
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In Georgia’s parliamentary elections, the ruling "Georgian Dream" party achieved a significant majority in areas with large Armenian and Azerbaijani populations: Akhalkalaki – 88%, Ninotsminda – 90%, Marneuli – 80%, Bolnisi – 81%, Tetritskaro – 68.6%, Dmanisi – 76.4%, Tsalka – 69.3%, and Gardabani – 70.8%. Footage of ballot-stuffing in Marneuli circulated widely on social media in Georgia and beyond. Meanwhile, "Georgian Dream" lost in Tbilisi, where national minorities are few.
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The United States and European allies have joined calls from observers for a full probe into reports of election-related violations in Georgia, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on the results of the parliamentary elections held in Georgia and the victory of the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party.
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On October 26, the President of COP29, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev met with John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President on International Climate Policy, information on the COP29 page on the social platform "X."
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