Georgia president says threat of war with Russia still relevant
RIA NovostiThursday, May 8, 200
BATUMI, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - The threat of war between Georgia and Russia is still relevant, the president of the ex-Soviet Caucasus state said on Thursday.
The statement came shortly after a dispute between the two over the alleged downing of a Georgian drone over breakaway Abkhazia, where Russian peacekeepers are deployed, and with Moscow and Tbilisi trading accusations of military expansion in the territory.
"I believe we were very close [to war with Russia], and this threat remains in place," Mikheil Saakashvili told reporters, adding that Georgia did not want armed conflict.
"Georgia cannot wage a war with Russia, it has insufficient military capabilities for that, and NATO will not help us," Saakashvili said, adding that attempts to annex part of Georgian territory would trigger reverberations in Russia's troubled North Caucasus region.
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Saakashvili also said he sought better ties with Russia, "but not at the expense of our territory."
The latest rise in tensions between Russia and Georgia was fueled by Moscow's decision to step up ties with Abkhazia and the other Georgian breakaway region, South Ossetia. The move was prompted by Georgia's NATO bid and Western recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Russia, however, has not recognized Georgia's rebel regions.
Two weeks ago, Georgia accused Russia of shooting down its unmanned drone over Abkhazia, which Tbilisi considers its sovereign territory. Moscow has denied involvement in the incident.
Abkhazia has since claimed it had downed several more Georgian reconnaissance planes, with the last one having reportedly been shot down today. Tbilisi denied the downings.
RIA NovostiThursday, May 8, 200
BATUMI, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - The threat of war between Georgia and Russia is still relevant, the president of the ex-Soviet Caucasus state said on Thursday.
The statement came shortly after a dispute between the two over the alleged downing of a Georgian drone over breakaway Abkhazia, where Russian peacekeepers are deployed, and with Moscow and Tbilisi trading accusations of military expansion in the territory.
"I believe we were very close [to war with Russia], and this threat remains in place," Mikheil Saakashvili told reporters, adding that Georgia did not want armed conflict.
"Georgia cannot wage a war with Russia, it has insufficient military capabilities for that, and NATO will not help us," Saakashvili said, adding that attempts to annex part of Georgian territory would trigger reverberations in Russia's troubled North Caucasus region.
(Article continues below)
Saakashvili also said he sought better ties with Russia, "but not at the expense of our territory."
The latest rise in tensions between Russia and Georgia was fueled by Moscow's decision to step up ties with Abkhazia and the other Georgian breakaway region, South Ossetia. The move was prompted by Georgia's NATO bid and Western recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Russia, however, has not recognized Georgia's rebel regions.
Two weeks ago, Georgia accused Russia of shooting down its unmanned drone over Abkhazia, which Tbilisi considers its sovereign territory. Moscow has denied involvement in the incident.
Abkhazia has since claimed it had downed several more Georgian reconnaissance planes, with the last one having reportedly been shot down today. Tbilisi denied the downings.
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