French president calls to end rhetoric of confrontation between Russia and Georgia

Russia should be a partner and friend of Georgia, while the rhetoric of confrontation needs to be terminated in order to restore confidence between the countries, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Freedom Square in Tbilisi on Friday, News-Georgia reports.

The French president arrived in Georgia on a one-day visit on his Caucasus tour.

"A partner and friend - that's what Russia should be to Georgi," Sarkozy said, noting that "France considers Russia a friend and sees it as a strategic partner."

According to him, everybody should understand that the Soviet Union has been left in the past.

"To restore confidence is to terminate the rhetoric of confrontation, while preference should be given to dialogue. Russia must recognize that Georgia, like any other country, has the right to determine its own path and choose its friends and allies," Sarkozy said.