Georgian president visits Moscow

(10 Feb 2004)
1. Exterior Institute of International Relations
2. Lecture hall, Saakashvili approaches podium to make a speech
3. Various of student audience
4. Red roses
5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgian President:
"It is a working visit. Naturally I don't expect any breakthrough from the first working visit, and painstaking work lies ahead of us to solve problems that have built up in our relations recently. It is clear that relations between Georgia and Russia need radical rethinking. At this point in time they are at an unacceptable low for both sides."
6. Students listening
7. Mikhail Saakashvili speaking to students
8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgian President:
"Strong Russia should not worry about competition. Because we cannot move three thousand kilometres towards Europe and I cannot, even if I really want to, move Russia two thousand kilometres to the right (east). Naturally we are tied to this region, under normal circumstances noone could compete with Russia when it comes to the influence on our region."
9. Students listening
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Saakashvili,Georgian President:
"It is my wish for Georgia to be free from all the military forces of all countries. Because Georgia is not a battle field between the United States and Russia. God forbid such a development should occur."
11. Georgian, Russian and Institute of International Relations flags
12. Saakashvili receives present from the head of the Institute of International Relations

STORYLINE

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said on Tuesday that it would take long, painstaking work to improve troubled relations between his country and its giant neighbour, Russia.

Saakashvili kicked off his two-day visit to Moscow with a lecture at the Russian capital's prestigious Institute of International Relations.

He told students that the relations between the two countries were at an unacceptable low, and said they needed radical rethinking.

Regional security, the fight against terrorism, the settlement of the conflict around Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia and prospects for the withdrawal of Russia's military bases from Georgia are all expected to be on the agenda of Saakashvili's meetings with senior Russian officials in the next few days.

Both sides have expressed hope that the tense ties that developed during the rule of former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze will be smoothed under Saakashvili.

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