Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili talked about the foreign
policy priorities today at the meeting with journalists. He said that
the US remains Georgia's strategic partner.
The current situation with Georgia's breakaway regions is not in
Russia's interests, Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said
at a meeting with representatives of the regional media.
"Even if tomorrow Russia decides to turn the situation around and
abandon the occupation of our territories, it wouldn't be able to do
so, as this process would require many years," he said.
Ivanishvili advised the Georgian people to remain patient as "nothing
can be solved in five minutes."
"I do not intend to change my position and criticize Russia. We will
patiently and tirelessly fight for the restoration of Georgia's
territorial integrity," he said.
However, Ivanishvili said terms such as "occupation" and "separatism"
reflect reality and Georgia will never renounce these in relations
with Russia.
"This is not going to happen as long as Georgian territory is under
occupation", he said.
Large scale military actions were launched in South Ossetia on August
8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the
Georgian military. Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia late in August. Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with
Moscow in response and has called the two unrecognized republics of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
