Georgia, Tbilisi, Aug. 9 / Ttrend N. Kirtskhalia /
There were no winners in the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war, Georgian Ambassador to the U.S. Temur Yakobashvili told "Voice of America".
"We have lost lives which we will be unable to return", the ambassador said. "The rest can be fixed."
Yakobashvili said that Russia has not won the war, because Russia's image has become "degenerated".
"Russia is openly positioned as an occupying force now and any attempts at diplomatic legitimacy have failed", Yakobashvili said.
Yakobashvili said that South Ossetia and Abkhazia have not obtained independence. Without a doubt, they have become even more dependent.
"Georgia is not a winner either", Yakobashvili said. "I think that these military provocations and military mechanisms aimed at gaining control over neighboring territories are a mistaken strategy of the Russian Federation. As soon as Russia changes its policy, it would be better for the whole region and for Russia itself."
Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. Later Russian troops occupied the city, driving the Georgian military back to Georgia.
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Aug. 26 and established diplomatic relations with the regions on Sept. 9, 2008.