Georgian, Abkhaz and South Ossetian peoples will decide how to develop their relations

On the verge of the fifth anniversary of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, former Russian president and incumbent Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has talked to the Russia Today TV channel.

Prime Minister Medvedev said he was optimistic about the prospects for bilateral relations between Russia and Georgia.

“In this regard, I'm a total optimist. I'm convinced that everything will be fine. Our peoples aren't enemies,” Medvedev is quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

“Of course, the conflict didn't help, but it wasn't based on deep-running disagreements. Again, that was a criminal mistake of certain leaders. But these days the situation is indeed a bit different. The country's new leadership that was brought in by the political and constitutional reforms is taking a more pragmatic stance... We welcome that,” the news agency cites Medvedev as saying.

Prime Minister Medvedev also said the peoples of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia would themselves decide how to develop their relations.

“The choice lies with the people who live there, the people of Georgia and the leaders they elect.  The people of Abkhazia and the people of South Ossetia have the power to give their leaders any kind of mandate, and this will be constitutional and in line with universally-recognized  international practices,” the prime minister is quoted as saying.