Bakradze: Tbilisi is ready to dialogue with Sukhumi and Tskhinvali

The official Tbilisi is ready to hold dialogue with the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This was stated by David Bakradze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, at today's meeting with students and academia of the Iliya Chavchavadze State University.

"The main issue for Georgia today is a dialogue. It is a dialogue both inside of the country, between political forces, and a dialogue with international community and those people who live today behind the temporary dividing lines, in the territory occupied by Russia," said Mr Bakradze.

The Parliament Speaker has noted that Russia needs territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as a foothold against Georgia.

The politician has emphasized that there are no problems, which cannot be settled, between Georgians and Abkhazians and between Georgians and Ossetians. "Finally, their choice is very simple: either assimilation within Russia, or preservation of both nations and territories - the bearers of special status in the Georgian state," the "News Georgia" quotes the Speaker as saying.

According to Mr Bakradze, Tbilisi "is interested in development of economic and cultural ties with Russia, and cooperation in the sphere of security."

He has noted that today the risks of a new military confrontation with Russia are low, as the "Vzglyad" newspaper writes.

Let us note here that Russia has already voiced its stand on continuation of Tbilisi's dialogue with Tskhinvali and Sukhumi. "If it's really so, I can only welcome this statement. If Georgia manages to persuade residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia of possibility of joint residence within some common borders in any formats, I think Russia should be the first one to welcome this progress of events," the "Our Abkhazia" quotes the words of Konstantin Kosachov, head of the State Duma Committee for International Matters.

However, according to Mr Kosachov, people in South Ossetia and Abkhazia are still scared by any future military scenario.

According to Andrei Nesterenko, official spokesman of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia will not give up its recognition of independent South Ossetia and Abkhazia for the sake of Georgia's dialogue with them.