Georgian president-elect pledges 'no aggression' towards

Image
AFP Tbilisi
Last Updated : Oct 28 2013 | 8:32 PM IST
Georgian president-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili today said he would strive to reduce tensions with Russia after the two foes fought a brief 2008 war under outgoing leader Mikheil Saakashvili.
"The relations are extremely difficult," Margvelashvili told reporters after sealing a landslide win at elections on yesterday.
"But we are steadfast that there will be no aggression, no destructive actions from us."
Saakashvili's key ambition of making Georgia a member of NATO and the European Union enraged Russia.
Margvelashvili pledged that furthering Georgia's integration into NATO and the EU remained the main foreign policy priority.
His first foreign trip is expected to be to Lithuania where Georgia is hoping to initial a landmark free trade agreement with the European Union at a summit in late November.
Tensions between the two ex-Soviet countries exploded into a five-day war in 2008 that saw Tbilisi effectively lose control of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, where Moscow has now stationed thousands of troops.
Margvelashvili said while the government of billionaire Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili had managed to "lower the temperature" over the past year the fate of the two territories remains non-negotiable.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Oct 28 2013 | 8:32 PM IST

Next Story