Nogaideli: We need a dialogue with Russia without any preconditions

The Georgian oppositional activists have been talking about the necessity of mending relationship with Russia for more than a year already. However, just like the ruling majority representatives, they prefer to pay visits across the waters. Leader of the oppositional Movement for Fair Georgia Zurab Nogaideli was the first one to venture to arrive to the Russian capital after the August events. He answered the questions of the GeorgiaTimes correspondent.

As is known, there are a lot of oppositional activists in Georgia: at least, twenty oppositional parties are constantly discussed by the media. There is hardly a politician among them who would keep from criticizing Saakashvili for the August adventure and would not assure the electorate of his party being definitely able to resume the territorial integrity and mend relationship with Moscow. Ultimately, both promises meet the expectations of the Georgian people.

Former Prime Minister and current moderate oppositionist Zurab Nogaideli was the first to fulfill the promise of setting up a dialogue with Moscow. He arrived in Moscow and met with the representatives of the Georgian, Ossetian and Abkhaz expatriate community in Russia.

Before his visit to the Russian capital he had stated his intention to work in the line of national democracy. Just like most Georgian politicians, Nogaideli regards the regaining of the lost territories, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to be a priority for his country. Well, one might ask: what is the difference between this activist and Mikhail Saakashvili with his team who already tried to bring those regions back and are not going to put up with the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia now?

Zurab Teimurazovitch suggests bringing back the people, not the territory. This idea was introduced at the beginning of the year when Nogaideli revealed his party's program. In his opinion, first of all, it is necessary to regain the mutual trust of the people, the Abkhazians, the Ossetians and the Georgians, and implement joint economical programs; only then one might start speaking about the reunification of the territories.

Well, what kind of role does Russia play in this dialogue between the Caucasian people? According to the oppositional politician, one cannot conduct any dialogue with the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia while being in severe confrontation with Russia. Nogaideli shared his ideas during the Moscow-Tbilisi video bridge held by RIA Novosti in Moscow office. Both Russian and Georgian journalists put a lot of questions to the Georgian politician.

Zurab Teimurazovitch immediately outlined the essential points of his visit. He said that it was Head of the Georgian Peoples Assembly Gocha Dzasokhov who helped him to arrange a meeting with the representatives of the Abkhaz and Ossetian expatriate communities. Why is this dialogue necessary? As explained by the politician, it is necessary to agree upon the guarantee of non-repetition of any war.

In the opinion of Nogaideli, the meetings were fruitful. When asked why Zurab Teimurazovitch did not suggest any economic programs aimed at mending relationship between the Abkhazians and Ossetians while being in office (Nogaideli occupied the post of Prime Minister in Saakashvili's government for three years), Nogaideli answered:

-I am proud of the years I spent in politics. Those were very complicated years in terms of economics and finance. People treat it with understanding. Now it is time to settle those issues in the economical aspect. Most people are convinced that it is the future not the past that one should pay attention to.

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