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Tuesday, April 5, 2005, #061 (0835)
Saakashvili snubs Putin, welcomes Kocharian
Georgian president turns down offer to meet with Putin, Bagapsh, Kokoiti in
Sochi, says he has not decided on May 9 Moscow visit
By Anna Arzanova
President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili said on Sunday that while no-one should be
surprised at his unexpected meeting with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian as neighbors can always hold talks without any prior
preparation, there was "no reason" for having spontaneous meetings
with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Appearing on Rustavi-2 late on April 3, Saakashvili said he had turned
down a proposal from Putin that the two meet along with the leaders
of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Sergei Bagapsh
and Eduard Kokoiti in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, adding
that it was necessary to hold meetings with Baghapsh and Kokoiti,
but only in Tbilisi.
Saakashvili did not say when the meeting had been proposed. On March
16 the president stated he would be willing to hold similar talks in
either Batumi or Tbilisi.
On Sunday, the president added that he has yet to decide whether or
not to go to Moscow for the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe
in World War II. He said he was waiting for a final answer of Putin
regarding the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.
"There really was an offer to hold a meeting in Sochi. As for
bilateral meetings, we want to hold such meetings, but our opinion
was that this meeting would only make sense if both sides negotiate
and discuss several concrete issues in advance," the president stated.
He said that the country has moved on from the "old system" to a "new
system" where all state decisions are prepared scrupulously in advance,
envisaging the interests of the both sides, when there are no surprises
and excesses. Saakashvili thinks that all meetings should have results.
"Georgia is already a country and we will continue relations with
Russia and undoubtedly on a high level. But as for unexpected and
hasty meetings, we both understand that there is no reason for having
a meeting just for the sake of having a meeting," Saakashvili said.
His comments were in stark contrast to those following his unexpected
April 1 meeting in Gudauri with Kocharian, a meeting which even his
own press service first heard about from journalists.
Following the meeting, Saakashvili explained that state formalities
were not always necessary. "We do not need ceremonies and political
limitations with our neighbors ... Without any prior preparations we
can always visit and hold talks with each other."
The president reiterated on Sunday that no-one should be surprised
by Kocharian's visit. "It is not necessary to call each other two
weeks before if a neighbor wants to come for tea and to meet so as
to discuss any issues if there are any," he said, adding that they
can visit each other unexpectedly.
Saakashvili stressed that they will always have something to discuss
with neighbors, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because, as he
explained, the countries are inter-connected and inter-dependent
and their lives interwoven. Furthermore, they face lots of common
problems, so that "it would be really foolish not to take advantage
of such links."
Saakashvili refuted rumors that Vladimir Putin asked Kocharian to
come to Tbilisi. "Armenia is an independent state which has its
own interests. Armenia is our neighbor and its president as well as
political elite is well-disposed toward Georgia," Saakashvili said.
Elaborating on this issue, the Georgian president stated that Georgia
is also very well disposed towards its neighbors as well. "If we
do not help each other, it will be very difficult for us to achieve
anything either at home or abroad. That is natural," he added.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005, #061 (0835)
Saakashvili snubs Putin, welcomes Kocharian
Georgian president turns down offer to meet with Putin, Bagapsh, Kokoiti in
Sochi, says he has not decided on May 9 Moscow visit
By Anna Arzanova
President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili said on Sunday that while no-one should be
surprised at his unexpected meeting with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian as neighbors can always hold talks without any prior
preparation, there was "no reason" for having spontaneous meetings
with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Appearing on Rustavi-2 late on April 3, Saakashvili said he had turned
down a proposal from Putin that the two meet along with the leaders
of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Sergei Bagapsh
and Eduard Kokoiti in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, adding
that it was necessary to hold meetings with Baghapsh and Kokoiti,
but only in Tbilisi.
Saakashvili did not say when the meeting had been proposed. On March
16 the president stated he would be willing to hold similar talks in
either Batumi or Tbilisi.
On Sunday, the president added that he has yet to decide whether or
not to go to Moscow for the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe
in World War II. He said he was waiting for a final answer of Putin
regarding the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.
"There really was an offer to hold a meeting in Sochi. As for
bilateral meetings, we want to hold such meetings, but our opinion
was that this meeting would only make sense if both sides negotiate
and discuss several concrete issues in advance," the president stated.
He said that the country has moved on from the "old system" to a "new
system" where all state decisions are prepared scrupulously in advance,
envisaging the interests of the both sides, when there are no surprises
and excesses. Saakashvili thinks that all meetings should have results.
"Georgia is already a country and we will continue relations with
Russia and undoubtedly on a high level. But as for unexpected and
hasty meetings, we both understand that there is no reason for having
a meeting just for the sake of having a meeting," Saakashvili said.
His comments were in stark contrast to those following his unexpected
April 1 meeting in Gudauri with Kocharian, a meeting which even his
own press service first heard about from journalists.
Following the meeting, Saakashvili explained that state formalities
were not always necessary. "We do not need ceremonies and political
limitations with our neighbors ... Without any prior preparations we
can always visit and hold talks with each other."
The president reiterated on Sunday that no-one should be surprised
by Kocharian's visit. "It is not necessary to call each other two
weeks before if a neighbor wants to come for tea and to meet so as
to discuss any issues if there are any," he said, adding that they
can visit each other unexpectedly.
Saakashvili stressed that they will always have something to discuss
with neighbors, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because, as he
explained, the countries are inter-connected and inter-dependent
and their lives interwoven. Furthermore, they face lots of common
problems, so that "it would be really foolish not to take advantage
of such links."
Saakashvili refuted rumors that Vladimir Putin asked Kocharian to
come to Tbilisi. "Armenia is an independent state which has its
own interests. Armenia is our neighbor and its president as well as
political elite is well-disposed toward Georgia," Saakashvili said.
Elaborating on this issue, the Georgian president stated that Georgia
is also very well disposed towards its neighbors as well. "If we
do not help each other, it will be very difficult for us to achieve
anything either at home or abroad. That is natural," he added.