Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 5 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Georgian ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze has called for the authority to establish "productive" relations with Russia.
"It is the only way to restore Georgia's territorial integrity," he said in an interview with the Georgian Asaval-Dasavali newspaper this week.
"Neither NATO, nor the U.N., nor the OSCE will restore Georgia's territorial integrity through their own resolutions, as Russia does not listen to them and will play its game," he said. "Taking into account the huge energy, financial and other opportunities, it may take much time."
Shevardnadze also said the Georgian government does not need to try to use the term "occupation" so often in various international resolutions. He said "this will lead to nothing," as the U.N. adopted eight resolutions "in favor of Georgia during my presidency, and none of them were fulfilled by Russia."
The ex-president added that the restoration of good relations with Russia is possible because Moscow wants to control Georgia, which is a strategic center between the East and West.
"There are some prospects for restoring relations, but this requires accurate and decisive steps," he said.
Shevardnadze stressed that the current conflict is only a conflict between two leaders, rather than a confrontation between peoples and nations.
"I do not believe that Putin is an enemy of Georgia," he said. "I worked with him successfully."