Georgia's opposition leader to meet with Russian parliamentary speaker

Leader of the Georgian opposition, Nino Burjanadze, who leads Democratic Movement-United Georgia, will wrap up her visit to Moscow after meeting with the speaker of the Russian Duma (parliament) Boris Grizlov.

Within her visit to the Russian capital, Burjanadze, who went to opposition after defecting from Saakashvili's team, has already met with Russian PM Vladimir Putin.

The two discussed the necessity of improving relations between Georgia and Russia and all other issues except the two breakaway regions of Georgia, which are occupied by Russia since the August war 2008.

At the meeting with, Putin said that Russia was prepared for negotiations with any political power, Georgian society and Georgian people.

Burjanadze in her turn agreed that normalizing relations with Russia was necessary for peaceful development of the region. She expressed her hope that the representatives of the two countries would find the ways for improving the situation by making specific steps.

Today, it was reported that after the meeting with Putin, the opposition party leader held meetings with tahe Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov and the Deputy Minister Gregory Karasin.

Burjanadze spoke to Georgian journalists after the meeting with Putin and defined the goals of her visit to Moscow. She said her interests were beyond the interests of her political party.

"I came here to clarify with Russian leaders how it is possible to resume ties between the two countries," Burjanadze said.

"I did not come here for the interests of my party, because there is no time for party business now," ex-speaker announced and added that she was not going to make any agreements with Russia`s ruling party.

"I will travel to the East, West and South too, if this is vital for the interests of my country,` Burjanadze said.

Ex-speaker also denied the reports about defection of two key members of his party.

She said it was an attempt of the government to overshadow the significance of her visit to Moscow.

"The political council of the party was assembled in the head office yesterday watching my visit to Moscow, including those two members, who, as TVs alleged, left the party," Burjanadze said.


/Georgian Times/