Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 24 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa pipelines saved Georgia from Russian occupation in August 2008, ex-Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said in an interview today with the Asaval-Dasavali weekly.
"The passage of oil pipelines across Georgia has ensured us the support of those foreign countries, which stood by us and did not allow Moscow to carry out the occupation," he said.
Shevardnadze also stressed that Georgia's becoming a regional leader was his achievement.
"My good relations with our neighbors allowed us to realize the significant projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Supsa pipeline, which have brought our country among the region's leaders," he stressed.