GEORGIA: President Saakashvili appeals directly to Russians to withdraw and start negotiations

Record ID: 574850

  • Title: GEORGIA: President Saakashvili appeals directly to Russians to withdraw and start negotiations
  • Date: 14th August 2008
  • Summary: (W5) TBILISI, GEORGIA (AUGUST 18, 2008) (REUTERS) NIGHT SHOT OF TBILISI
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Georgia
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6MANPQ05K29F289NDKQQX5XDU
  • Story Text: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appeals directly to the Russians to withdraw from Georgia and start negotiations.
    Georgia's president struck a conciliatory tone towards Russia as its troops were due to start leaving his country on Monday (August 18), urging Moscow to discuss ways to avoid "discord for future generations".
    In a television address recorded for broadcast later on Monday, President Mikheil Saakashvili demanded Russia leave Georgian territory immediately, but also made a plea to mend fences.

    "I appeal to you that after your armed forces leave Georgian territory, to start serious thinking and discussions about further negotiations, a further search for ways (to conduct) relations in order not to sow discord between our countries for good," Saakashvili said in the broadcast which his press office made available to Reuters in advance.

    "Let's not sow discord for future generations. I don't appeal to your mercy but I appeal to your pragmatism and simple common sense. I think the time to make the right decisions has come."
    The 10-day confrontation has killed about 200 Georgians, dealt a blow to the Georgian military, damaged the country's economy, disrupted road and rail links and drew Western criticism of Saakashvili's handling of the crisis.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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