Russian MFA Comments on Saakashvili’s Refusal to Visit Moscow

Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in an information note issued on May 6, that “it is difficult to comment” on Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s refusal to visit Moscow on May 8-9.

The failure to reach an agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow over the timeframe of Russian military bases’ withdrawal from Georgia prompted Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili to announce that President Saakashvili will not visit Moscow. Tbilisi wanted to finalize an agreement over the military bases before May 8, so that the Georgian and Russian Presidents could sign it in Moscow.

“Moscow has never linked the invitation of President Saakashvili with the process of negotiations over the timeframe of the Russian bases withdrawal from Georgia, as well, [Russia has] never linked the arrival of representatives of foreign countries with the resolution of some bilateral issues. We think these are absolutely different issues. All the leaders of post-Soviet states are invited to participate in these celebrations [dedicated to the end of the World War II],” Alexander Yakovenko said.

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