Georgian commemorates young cadets, Russia discusses Russian-Georgian relations
By Keti Arjevanidze
Tuesday, February 26
“Russia will not reject the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on behalf of widening the relationship with Georgia in different spheres,” the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry informed on February 25th.
According to the statement of the Russian Foreign Affairs Department, the new Georgian government is acting in a pragmatic way and shows interest in building a future economic relationship in the sphere of energy and humanitarian development.
Grigory Karasin, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, confirmed that Russia is interested in the normalization of Georgian-Russian relations, although the Russian Foreign Ministry thinks that these relations should not refer to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
According to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, he thinks that Russia will not concede its geopolitical interests. “Thus, Georgia should continue on its path towards Euro integration,” Saakashvili said.
Georgian State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration, Aleksi Petriashvili, also responded to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement. He said that Georgia will continue to develop and restore the relationship with Abkhazians and South Ossetians.
Petriashvili welcomed positive steps in the cultural, humanitarian and trade spheres, although added that Georgia remains devoted to its strategic task which is complete de-occupation. He said negotiations between Georgia and Russia will continue in Geneva; simultaneously the Georgian side will intensively work with the Abkhazians and Ossetians, “in order to make Georgia attractive for them, where the next generation will have to live.”
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said Russia will have to get used to the fact that the policy of non-recognition of the occupied territories has already been implemented. Alasania hoped that in the new political reality when the economic-trade negotiations are on, good political continuation is also possible.
Meanwhile, the Georgian people commemorated its young Georgian heroes who fought and died for the independence of Georgia on February 25, 1921, the day when Soviet troops crossed the Georgian border to remove the local Social-Democratic government and promote the Bolshevik regime in the country.
Over 300 Georgian cadets fell on the battle field. It has been 92 years since the occupation of the first independent Republic of Georgia new government members assembled to commemorate the young heroes.
Chairman of the Parliament, Davit Usupashvili, said the new government should create a situation in the country that every citizen could build the country by his deeds.
Usupashvili added that the country must be free from occupants. “We should reconcile with those who do not want to live with us, but we should achieve dialogue with them without any victims,” Usupashvili stated.
“We must leave to future generations a truly unified and powerful state,” the Georgian Prime Minister said commemorating the young cadets.
The attendees held a moment of silence in the remembrance of the deceased cadets at the memorial ceremony.
