Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili welcomed on Thursday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's words that Russia does not plan to recognize the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"I welcome the statement by Foreign Minister Lavrov that Russia will not recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We have been waiting for this statement for a long time, and now we welcome it," Interfax news agency quoted Saakashvili as saying.
Lavrov told a press conference Wednesday that Russia had never said it would demand independence for Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the recognition of independence for Kosovo.
"We think this statement is a sign that Russia's policy may become more constructive, from our point of view," he said.
Saakashvili said the Georgian administration "is ready to settle the conflicts in the interests of all citizens," Interfax reported from the city of Strasbourg, eastern France.
Georgia "hopes for a constructive role on the part of Russia inthe settlement of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Saakashvili said.
Tbilisi has long been irritated by what it called Moscow's support for South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Saakashvili, however, said repeatedly after winning the snap presidential election on Jan. 5 he was ready to improve ties with Moscow.
Source:Xinhua
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