France wants to see Abkhazia and South Ossetia returned to Georgia and at the same time it wants to keep good relations with Russia, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said at a press-conference after meeting Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, News Georgia reports.
Kouchner said that France wants the Russian forces to leave the conflict zone. He noted that he is not a supporter of the word "occupation," on which Tbilisi insists. The French minister said that Georgia should start rapprochement with Russia. He emphasized that Russia must fulfill all points of the cease-fire agreement of 2008 and withdraw its forces.
Talking about the Georgian integration into Europe, Kouchner said that France will provide support, including signing an agreement on association with the European Union. He also spoke about the new zone around the EU for non members of the organization.
Saakashvili thanked Kouchner and France for its support and the position on issues important for Georgia. He insisted on the word "occupation“, saying that the Russian troops had forced the locals out of the region and settled in Georgia after ethnic cleaning. Saakashvili emphasized the importance of developing ties with Belarus and Ukraine within the framework of the Eastern Partnership program.
