Saakashvili Urges Normalized Relations With Russia

Mikheil Saakashvili (file photo) (epa) November 27, 2006 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has called for normalizing relations with Russia, but said it would not come at the expense of his country's national interest.

As reported by the Associated Press on November 26, Saakashvili said Georgia does not want to argue with Russia, but will stand on its "own feet" in the present period of tension with Moscow.

Relations between the countries plummeted in September, when Georgia detained four Russians on spying charges and Russia in turn imposed a trade and travel embargo against Georgia.

(AP)

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Georgian deportees arriving in Tbilisi on October 6 (epa)

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MORE: Coverage of the situation in Georgian from RFE/RL's Georgian Service and in Russian from RFE/RL's Russian Service.