Burjanadze: Visit to Moscow is a Breakthrough

During the two-hour long talks, Georgian Interim President Nino Burjanadze and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed broad range of issues in Russo-Georgian relations, Russian President’s press office reported.

The Russian President said that Moscow is watching closely developments in Georgia. He also said, “Russia is not indifferent towards the pre-election situation in the country.” Georgia will hold snap presidential elections on January 4.

Nino Burjanadze said after the talks that her visit to Russia “was a breakthrough in Russo-Georgian relations.” “I saw the will of improving bilateral relations between Russia and Georgia,” she added.

Georgian Interim President said after the negotiations, that they “had very frank talks and discussed very painful problems, including defense and security issues and visa regime.”

“Our goal is integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures; however Georgia’s strategic cooperation with the United States and Europe does not contradicts Georgia’s friendship with Russia,” Nino Burjanadze said.

She stressed that conflict in Abkhazia is “a major stumbling-block to Russo-Georgian relations.” “Russia can help in resolving problems between Georgians and Abkhazians,” she added.

Nino Burjanadze also said that visa regime between Russia and Georgia “does not foster strengthening of bilateral ties.”