Lavrov claims western countries and the US try to tear away Georgia from Russia
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, July 25
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov says that Western countries, and first of all the United States, are trying to tear away neighboring countries, including Georgia, from Russia.
Lavrov made the statement in an interview with Latin American media sources and RT TV channel.
A Russian diplomat said that the Kremlin never wanted to worsen relations with Georgia.
“It was the Georgian leadership that previously, under Mikhail Saakashvili, broke off diplomatic relations, tried in every way to limit our economic cooperation… Those who create material values in Georgia, they remember very well how close our trade and investment ties were. Now this trade has resumed. And I do not think that anyone is experiencing any inconvenience,” he stated.
“He, [Saakashvili], despite repeated warnings, including from Vladimir Putin, decided to use force to solve his problems in South Ossetia, and then in Abkhazia,” he said, referring to Georgia’s two occupied regions.
Russian Foreign Minister claimed that it was Saakashvili, who started the war in 2008.
“American instructors worked there, and Georgian special forces and military personnel were trained. And the orders that were given to seize South Ossetia, they were criminal ones, and everyone understands this. He attacked his citizens, attacked peacekeepers, among who were Russian servicemen too,” he said.
The minister also commented on Putin's decision, not to impose sanctions on trade with Georgia, after State Duma MPs requested it. Lavrov said he does not know if the US will take an example from that.
“It is hard for me to judge whether the United States will draw any conclusion from the decision of President Putin not to impose any sanctions on Georgia because the US is a special country. They have their traditions,’ he said.
Lavrov noted that if Washington began to pursue a policy of equal and mutually respectful relations with all its partners, including Russia, the problems in the world would be solved much more efficiently.
Earlier this month Russian diplomat said the US is trying to inhibit Russia and Georgia from normalizing their ties.
"We have fears that our American colleagues are also trying to do everything possible to prevent Russia and Georgia from normalizing their relations and this has been obvious over the past few years,” he stressed.
Lavrov’s statement came after the massive protests launched in Tbilisi sparked by the visit of Russian parliamentarians on June 20.
During the demonstrations on June 20-21, around 240 people were injured, and 300 were arrested. After these events, Russian President Vladimir Putin banned flights with Georgia which took effect on July 8.
