Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Effective steps and summits with the Russian authorities are necessary, the leader of "Democratic Movement - United Georgia" party Nino Burjanadze said at a press conference. Burjanadze thinks the policy of the authorities against South Ossetia is strange.

"It's been over 7-8 months now since election took place, and I wonder how it was possible not to start wide-ranging talks with a country which we have the most problems with. We need to stop flirting with the West and turn to work. Bilateral negotiations must pass with Russia, because if you say Russia you do not trust her, you shouldn't wait for the outcome," Burjanadze underscored.

According to Burjanadze, she knows exactly how to talk with everyone, including Russia, Europe, and all the neighbors to obtain a concrete result.

Burjanadze also believes that until questions about the conflict in region will not be globally resolved, the facts of abduction and other negative trends will continue.

She also told journalists the West recognized the territorial integrity of Georgia formally, and there the matter dropped.

Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbour, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the breakaway regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.

The "Democratic Movement - United Georgia" party, led by Burjanadze is right-of-centre and stands for closer ties with Russia and the European Union, while maintaining and expanding many of the current economic and social initiatives.