12:55, 27 August 2008

Shevardnadze: not Russia should solve Georgia's territorial problems

Eduard Shevardnadze has condemned Russia's recognition of South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence, having stated that the territorial problems of Georgia should be solved only under mediation of the world community, and not exclusively by Russia, as it happens now.

Making his comments on the recent events in the interview to the Day.Az Agency, ex-president of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze called the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, which had grown into warfare in the territory of the breakaway republic on August 8 this year, as "tragic both for Georgia and for Russia." Besides, the ex-president of Georgia has noted that he personally had never stood in favour of the military decision of the conflict.

According to the politician, in the time of his presidency, the military way of settling the conflict was considered to be a wrong decision. "During 10 years I kept convincing Abkhazians and Ossetians that Georgia would solve the existing frictions only peacefully. However, the event has occurred that can't be justified," said Mr Shevardnadze.