Medvedev: Georgia, Russia to resolve dispute "on our own" (Extra)

Europe News

Jun 6, 2008, 12:20 GMT

Moscow - The Russian and Georgian presidents traded optimistic words ahead of talks on the conflict over Russia's presence in Georgia's rebel region of Abkhazia Friday amid mounting international concern. 'I think that we, on our own, are the most capable of resolving the questions, overcoming the difficulties that exist and building our relationship for the long run,' Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a press conference Friday before turning to ask his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Saakashvili, 'What do you think?' The comments appeared a move to reject Western efforts to mediate the conflict with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana meeting with rebel leaders in Abkhazia on Friday. Medvedev, who made his first foreign policy visit to Europe on Thursday when he visited Berlin, said in an apparent nod to his German hosts, 'They are worried about the future of Georgian-Russian relations,' news agency Interfax reported. Saakashvili has said he hopes the new presidency will provide a window for better relations after a difficult relationship with Medvedev's predecessor and mentor, Vladimir Putin. Responding to Medvedev's sally Friday, Saakashvili said: 'There are a lot of unresolved questions, but there are no questions that are impossible to resolve.' 'Russia and Georgia are countries that are very close to each other historically, culturally ... the current situation is artificial and does not work to anybody's advantage.' The two leaders were to hold 30-minute talks, but Russian officials told business daily Kommersant that no breakthroughs were expected Friday. Russia is angered by Georgia's efforts to lobby international support after tensions erupted on the world stage on April 20 when Georgia accused a Russian fighter jet of shooting down one of its spy planes. Following a UN report corroborating Tbilisi's claims, the United States has backed Georgia in demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops deployed to Abkhazia as Moscow stepped up diplomatic ties with the breakaway region. Over 2,500 Russian peacekeepers have patrolled the autonomous region since a 1994 UN ceasefire agreement that ended civil war, and most Abkhaz residents have been issued Russian passports in recent years. © DPA 2008

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