(mosnews) - According to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili Georgia does not want to confront with Russia and hopes to normalize bilateral ties, The Associated Press reported Sunday.
Speaking at the opening of a new fruit processing factory in the Adjaria region, Mikhail Saakashvili also said it was in Russia's interest to ease tensions between the two states, reports Trend.
We don't wish to argue with Russia. We are for setting relations with its leadership straight. But this should take into consideration Georgia's national interests, he said.
Saakashvili has also noticed that Georgia will not bend to economic sanctions. The sanctions can cause only temporary and insignificant problems, which can be overcome. Georgia expands cooperation with other states to win new markets.
Relations between Russia and Georgia have dipped since President Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in 2003 amid tensions over Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the Caucasus Mountains nation's warming relations with the West, including with NATO.
