Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has said that his country has no intention of becoming involved in an armed confrontation with Russia and wants to maintain good relations with Moscow. "I would like to tell everyone categorically that Georgia is not in a state of war with the Russian Federation, and we do not intend to become involved in an armed confrontation with Russia", Saakashvili said at a meeting with students broadcast live by Imedi TV on 10 August.

Georgia is no longer a country that can be "eaten up so easily" and is ready to "repel any possible aggression or terrorist threat", he said. Saakashvili stressed that Georgia is striving for good relations with Russia, but its "major political aim" is to become integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures, to develop the economy, and to restore its territorial integrity.

"We offer the Russian Federation full and transparent cooperation on all security issues," he said, adding that Georgia will not allow anyone to obtain stability "at the expense of destabilizing others, in this case Georgia". He said he wanted his meeting with President Putin to be "substantial" in order to resolve all problems within the framework of "constructive partnership" and urged Russia to realize that Georgia has "self-esteem and dignity".

Describing the 6 August incident, he said (smiling) that "an aircraft-shaped object" had flown in from "one big northern country" and dropped on Georgian soil a "missile-shaped device" that did not explode, adding that he was "fascinated" with Georgian officials' actions, the reaction of the Georgian people, and the international community's response, which were quite different from the "hysteria" in Russia. He recalled seeing on TV a Russian general "all red in the face" who did not know himself what "stupid" things he was saying to relieve Russia of responsibility for this incident and described such behaviour as "a sign of weakness". He said a big group of experts from a number of European countries and the United Nations were coming to Georgia to investigate the incident.

In his speech, Saakashvili emphasized the importance of his country's economic development and education, saying that Georgia is "quite a small country", which should be distinguished with its "intellectual dominance" and economic development. He also praised Georgia's achievements in democratic reforms and military organizational development, pointing out the difference between the situation in Georgia before the 2003 Rose Revolution and after it and called for "consolidation" of Georgian citizens of all ethnicities and a "clear vision" of where this country was heading.