Georgia sticking to diplomatic channels in dealing with Russia
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said Georgia would not use force against Russia regardless of whatever happens.
Commenting on Georgia's decision to tough policy towards Russia, she said: "Georgia's tightening policy towards Russia envisages intensive use of diplomatic channels and disseminating information about threats from its northern neighbor," she noted. "Whatever happens, Georgia will not use force as it is committed to non-use of force."
She said Georgia's action would contain intensive messages and information about the problems at hand.
A decision about toughening Georgia's policy towards Russia was made on October 18 at a meeting of Georgia's Crisis Management and Security Council under the Georgian prime minister.
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania announced that Georgia has started to pursue an aggressive foreign policy, noting that a political plan regarding the foreign activities should be immediately developed.
"At the meeting of the Crisis Management and Security Council we discussed the information linked to Abkhazia's annexation. We briefed the prime minister about our considerations, and he gave appropriate orders to the Security Council and Foreign Ministry to prepare a plan of foreign policy on how all government institutions should resist the annexation process. Very aggressive foreign policy measures will be taken after that," Alasania said.
He explained that aggressiveness in this context means activity and the mentioned plan will involve all government agencies of Georgia.
Tensions between Georgia and Russia have strained after the large-scale military confrontation of the two bordering countries in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Russian troops have later invaded Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military from the region. The northern giant recognized the South Ossetia and Abkhazia's independence in late August. In response, Tbilisi cut its diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.