Mikheil Saakashvili offers to hold unconditional peace talks with Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says he plans to offer to hold unconditional peace talks with Russia - two years after the two countries went to war over a breakaway Georgian republic.

In an interview with France’s Le Figaro newspaper published Monday, November 22, Mr. Saakashvili said he will formally make his offer during a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The Georgian leader said he also plans to renounce the unilateral use of force. Mr. Saakashvili called his plans “controversial,” saying “any country that is occupied is obligated to fight to defend its sovereignty.”

He said he does not want to see Georgia wind up like Afghanistan, VOA News reported.

Georgia and Russia fought a brief war in 2008 over the pro-Russian breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia. Russia quickly overwhelmed the Georgian forces and later recognized South Ossetia and another breakaway republic, Abkhazia, as independent countries.