Saakashvili: Tbilisi will not be Confrontational with Russia

Speaking to Georgian journalists on September 20 in New York, President Mikheil Saakashvili stated that Georgia’s foreign policy has three aims: to popularise Georgia abroad, to seek external security guarantees and to encourage links with Georgians abroad.

He also stated that the the country should strike a balance “between North and South, East and West” and added that he does not intend to be “confrontational” with Russia.

Commenting on a meeting that recently took place in Astana, Kazakhstan involving the heads of the CIS states, Saakashvili said Georgia voiced its positions “firmly, but in a friendly manner.” This will remain the stance of Georgia towards Russia, the Georgian President added. He reiterated that Georgia will seek to accomodate Russian interests insofar as they do not contradict Georgia’s vital national interests.

Saakashvili also said that he does not intend to speak harshly about Russia during his planned address to the UN General Assembly, but will instead raise the issue of a possible link between separatism and terrorism.