Better relations with Russia can help solve Georgia's territorial problems - Burjanadze
TBILISI. March 27 (Interfax) - The leader of the Democratic Movement-United Georgia Party, Nino Burjanadze, has said that claims by the new Georgian authorities about joining NATO and the European Union are an delusional.
"The statement by the U.S. president is the truth we heard from our Western colleagues too, the truth that was actively concealed from our people by the National Movement (the former ruling party) and today by Georgian Dream (the current ruling coalition)," Burjanadze told a press conference on Thursday, commenting on the statement by U.S. President Barack Obama that NATO has no near-term expansion plans.
Instead of telling Georgians the truth, in particular, that "as long as Russian troops remain in Georgia, it has no chance of joining NATO, Georgian Dream continues to feed our people with illusions," she said.
As regards Georgia's territorial problems, improving relations with Russia and starting direct dialogue with Russian leaders will be crucial, Burjanadze said.
The Georgian authorities have not done enough in this direction, while the existing format, in particular, meetings between the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Russia Relations Zurab Abashidze and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, are hardly efficient, she said.
