Georgian Politician Calls For More Support In Row With Russia

Nino Burdjanadze, speaker of the Georgian parliament (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, October 9, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The speaker of Georgia's parliament has called on Europe to offer Georgia "more serious" support in its confrontation with Russia.

The row between the two states was sparked by the arrest last month of four Russian soldiers by Georgian authorities on charges of spying.

Speaking to RFE/RL, Nino Burdjanadze said the arrest was justified and that the package of measures Russia imposed against Georgia was in fact spurred by anger over the recent decision by NATO to raise the status of its dialogue with Georgia.

"We have enough evidence [against the Russian officers], and that's why we gave all the evidence to the OSCE to investigate," Burdjanadze said. "In any case, a more civilized way would have been to first of all discuss the issue. But Russia just wanted to press Georgia, and to punish Georgia because of our [NATO] Intensified Dialogue."

She also said Georgia is ready to negotiate with Russia, but only when Russia decides to build "normal, civilized, and equal" relations with Georgia.

Burdjanadze was speaking at the 10th annual Forum 2000 in Prague, a major international conference exploring ways to avoid conflict.