Official Statements on Russia-Georgia Conflict
Mikhail Saakashvilli and Mikhail Gorbachev

See Also: Official Statements by American Politicians; Official Statements by Russian and Other Politicians;

Mikhail Saakashvilli Interviewed on CNN
August 8th 

CHETRY: And we have - a very important view to bring you now. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is joining us now for an exclusive interview. Thanks for being with us this morning.

We're hearing these news reports and we're seeing some of the pictures of these Russian tanks. Can you describe to us what is happening now?

PRES. MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI, GEORGIA: Well, I mean, Georgia is under attack. And we have Russian tanks moving in. We have continuous Russian bombardments. Since yesterday, you know, specifically targeting civilian population. It happened at, you know, we had lots of bombs today. But it happened one occasion I saw firsthand with my own eyes, happened to be in that town, two Russian jets coming very low, low altitude at low speeds, specifically looking at the marketplace in the very busy afternoon time.

And hitting it, hitting the crowd of the people. And lots of wounded people there. And, you know, this is Russia is fighting war with us in our own territory. And we are in the situation of self-defense against big and mighty neighbor. We are a country of less than five million people, and certainly our forces are not comparable.

CHETRY: Can you confirm that Georgian troops have shot down two Russian aircrafts?

SAAKASHVILI: Georgia's self-defense troops have informed us that they've fired back and shot down two Russian aircrafts. But this is very small part of the inflights. And basically didn't change much of the picture. Yes. But I have - I can confirm that that's what they are saying, that's what they've been confirming. And that, you know, one of these aircrafts was specifically attacking the civilian hospital, wounding doctors and patients there. With no real purpose.

CHETRY: What do you think the United States government should do if anything right now?

SAAKASHVILI: Look, I mean, this is complicated. It's not about a tiny separatist area inside Georgia. The overall population there is less than 25,000 people. It has never been more than 30,000. And it's ethnically diverse, and it's right in the middle of Georgia. But Russia has been preparing for this for years and months now. You know, there've been amassing troops at the border for over four months and they made it no secret.

With our closeness with the United States, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the west in general, we are happy that Georgian democracy, and the way Georgia is run. Georgia is indeed one of small, but very prosperous democratic neighbors of Russia. Not a good example for present people apparently in the Kremlin. And the point here is they always told us, we'll hit you because you're close to the United States.

Yesterday, the whole thing started. You know, they'll be shelling our position for weeks and weeks, especially the last hours, we didn't respond, we declared a unilateral ceasefire. And we only responded when Russian tanks started to move into our country. I mean at 24 a.m., the very moment I got the news Russian tanks are in, I told, OK, let's open the artillery fire. This was not about a separatist area. This was a very blunt Russian aggression. So, what the Americans can do about it? Well, it's not about Georgia anymore. It's about the principles and values America has. You know, it's like attack into 1939 . It's like Afghanistan, in 1979. It's like Czechoslovakia in 1968 when Soviet and Russians tanks moved in.

We are right now suffering because we want to be free and we want to be a democracy multi-ethnic democracy that belongs to all ethnic groups and that's exactly what's happening there. So, basically, I have to - I mean, it's not about Georgia anymore, it's about America, its values. You know, I went to two U.S. universities. I always taught that these values were also those of my own. We have held them not because we love America although I do love America, but because we love freedom. And the point here is that I also taught that America also stands up for those free-loving nations and supports them.

And that's what America is all about. That's why we look with hope as every American. You know, how well the moment was chosen, look at it. You know, there are Olympic games, nobody cares about politics. There is a U.S. election, of course, internal politics consumes everything.

CHETRY: Right.

SAAKASHVILI: There is most of the decision makers are gone for holidays, brilliant moment to attack a small country. Who would care, please?

CHETRY: Well, Mr. President. Let me ask you about this.

SAAKASHVILI: Who will care because it will make lots of difference.

CHETRY: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is saying that he pledging to protect the south Ossetian. Many of them have Russian citizenship and many of them want to be part of Russia, not Georgia. How do you square that with what you're saying about these attacks that have been happening on democracy there?

SAAKASHVILI: Look, this is - this is just not fair. We are talking about small number of population. I can tell you that, you know, mainly they are separatists, switch sides and is now working together with the Georgian government to develop his own ethnic group. This is not about this group, we have a multi-ethnic society where everybody has rights, but this place, this small enclave has been directly administered by Russia. It has been basically the Russian Security Services paradise for smuggling for all kind of criminal activities, for the kind of elicit, you know, mining, et cetera. You know, it was like a small offshore zone for all this time.

Now, we didn't do much about it because we cannot, you know, compete with Russia. And, of course, it would be suicidal of us to provoke Russia unless Russia - what happened to us, it wasn't about provocation, Russia waited, waited for some time and then just said, OK, something is happening. You know, there is artillery fire, there is attack, and then tanks move in. This situation was so artificial, it was like Poland attacking Germany in 1939. It was exact. I mean for me, that's the parallel. I mean, it's like Finland attacking the Soviet Union in 1939, when Stalin wanted part of Finland and therefore that he had time to subjugate that nation.

We are a freedom-loving nation that is right now under attack. And we've always been warned if you got close to America, if you continue down this path, you will have problems. Well, we went to economic embargo, we still prospered. WE went for all kind of provocation, we didn't pay much attention to this. But what's happening now, even my imagination would never - I mean, it's beyond what I could have imagined. This is really way too much. And if this thing - if they get away with this in Georgia, the world will be in trouble.

Georgia is not at stake right now. It's all about Georgia. It's about values, principles, and the world order. Is Russia going to get away this kind of violation? Well, I don't think so.

CHETRY: Well, I want to thank you for speaking with us about this this morning. Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili joining us this morning. No doubt we await a response from the international community and the U.S. government, as well on the situation, the escalation of hostilities there between Georgia and Russia. Thank you.

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Statement by the President of Georgia on Russia's Recognition of S. Ossetia and Abkhasia
August 26, 2008

The Russian Federation’s actions are an attempt to militarily annex a sovereign nation-the nation of Georgia. This is in direct violation of international law and imperils the international security framework that has ensured peace, stability, and order for the past 60 years.

Russia’s decision today confirms that its invasion of Georgia was part of a broader, premeditated plan to redraw the map of Europe. Russia today has violated all treaties and agreements that it has previously signed.

Russia’s actions have been condemned in the strongest possible terms by the entire international community, which has reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. The Government of Georgia is grateful for the world’s support.

The regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are recognized by international law as being within the borders of Georgia.

Today, by its actions, the Russian Federation is seeking to validate the use of violence,direct military aggression, and ethnic cleansing to forcibly change the borders of a neighboring state.

Russia’s refusal to withdraw its military forces from Georgia-and its attempt to annex two regions of Georgia-is in direct violation of the EU-brokered cease fire to end its invasion and occupation of Georgia.

The two regions in question have been de-populated by conflict and continue to be subject to widespread ethnic cleansing by Russia and its proxies-as confirmed by the United Nations and other international bodies.

These are areas where the local populations- simply because of their nationality - have been chased out, with the direct intervention of the Russian Federation.

The few civilians who remain in these regions have been given Russian passports en masse, in violation of international law and norms, making a mockery of the principle of “right to protect”.

One such expulsion took place in 1993 in Abkhazia. Others took place last week in South Ossetia and in Upper Abkhazia/the Kodori Gorge.

I remind you that before the first conflict, more than 525,000 people livedin Abkhazia. Today less than 150,000 do.

I remind you that ethnic Georgians in South Ossetia have been systematically forced to flee that territory due to Russia’s invasion. The attacks on ethnic Georgians, both inside and outside the conflict zones, are continuing.

The ethnic cleansing is something that the local rebel separatists are proud to announce - and which Russia, through its actions, is attempting to legalize.

Is it legal to remove ethnic groups from their homes using violence and terror?

Is it moral or legal for an ethnically cleansed area to be rewarded with independence by a neighbor?

If intervention in Kosovo was about stopping ethnic cleansing, today’s decision by the Russian Federation is about rewarding and legalizing ethnic cleansing.

Russia has turned logic and morality on its head.

Russia’s decision is therefore a direct and grave challenge to the international order.This a challenge for the entire world. Not just Georgia.

It means that today, annexation and ethnic cleansing have once again become tools of international relations.

If accepted by the international community, it means that foreign-sponsored groups around the world can use violence and ethnic cleansing to achieve their ends.

It means that third parties can arm, sustain and direct those groups in order to change the borders on the world’s map.

Today, it is clear around the world that Russia is acting as an aggressor state.

My appeal to the free world is to condemn and reject Russia’s dangerous and irrational decision - NOT only for Georgia’s sake - but for the sake of preserving the fundamental basis of international law and order.

On behalf of my Government and people, I condemn this reckless act and want to state clearly that the Russian action does not hold any legal value.

As before - and according to international law, Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty is inviolable.

Russia’s aims, method and goals are now clear.

The Russian Federation has used military force to try to dismember my country.

In the days and weeks ahead we will work with the international community to prevent this decision from having any effect on the sovereignty of my country and from further undermining the international order.

Together we must stand united against this aggression and call on you for your assistance and immediate reaction.

This is a test for the entire world and a test for our collective solidarity.

This is the test that we - all free people - must not fail.

My friends, we are all concerned today. And today Georgia counts on your support.

Today a challenge has been posed to all of us.

Today the fate of Europe and the free world is unfortunately being played out in my small country.

But together, we can and we must unite to meet this challenge.

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Saakashvilli vs. Gorbachev on Larry King Live
August 14, 2008

LARRY KING: Good evening.

Tensions are high as the conflict between Russia and Georgia builds. Georgia's president claims one third of his country is now occupied. You'll hear from him later in the show.

But first, I sat down a little earlier today, with former Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, and asked him about the crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING: President Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union -- he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize back in 1990 -- wrote a "Washington Post" op-ed earlier this week titled "The Path To Peace in the Caucasus."

Mr. President, thank you for joining us.

We'll get right into it.

The president of Georgia told CNN yesterday that we've been witnessing the past few days "the brutal, calculated, cold-blooded, premeditated murder by Russia of a small democracy."

How do you respond?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, this is all lies from beginning to end. And I am -- really, I really think this is really beyond comprehension. I have heard the opinion of Eduard Shevardnadze. He knows what the situation is on their side.

So it was all at night, a little past midnight, when the city was asleep. Then from all sides, it was shelled with shells of enormous power. They used artillery. They used aircraft. They used all weapons of killing. And this is really amazing.

Tskhinvali, in fact, was devastated by fire from multiple rocket launchers against people, against housing, against hospitals, against water and sanitation, against the energy and communication infrastructure. All of that was destroyed. The old monuments were destroyed. And they were among the oldest in the Caucasus. The ancestral graves were ruined -- were then trampled by tanks.

KING: Mr. President, excuse me, you are saying that Georgia started this?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Yes, indeed. There is no doubt about it.

What is more, the response required the movement of additional forces into South Ossetia because Tskhinvali was attacked by a powerful force, by an armada. And I remember the Second World War. I remember the front. I remember the occupation. I saw terrible weapons used. But this was the use of sophisticated weapons against a small town, against sleeping people. This was a barbaric assault.

KING: One of our candidates, John McCain, the senator, I'm sure you know, he calls this regime change. He said Russia's true objective is to change regimes.

How do you respond to that charge?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No. Russia was responding to what happened in Tskhinvali. Russia needed to address this. Russia could not avoid addressing this assault and this devastation and the killings of people, the devastation of the city. The peacekeepers had been there for some time. There were all kinds of things happening. But there were still possibilities for dialogue. And there was some dialogue going on and they were considering certain options and possibilities.

So Russia was ready to continue to fulfill its functions. There is just no doubt about it. And I don't know why it's happened that it has been presented that Russia invaded Georgia. This is really disinformation. This is all lies. It means that this plan -- there was a plan to attack Ossetia...

KING: OK...

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): ...and also to misinform people. It's a kind of information war. I think now that they are showing the city, it is becoming clearer what happened.

KING: Do you think, Mr. President, that Russia plans to stay in Georgia?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Russia has a mandate. And after events like these, Russia should stay, but certainly within the mandate, within the peacekeeping mandate.

KING: The foreign minister, Lavrov, has asserted that the president of Georgia "can no longer be our partner in negotiations. It would better if he went."

Do you want a change of leadership in Georgia?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, I think that what is really important is -- well, we can understand what people are saying and what people are saying with regard to Saakashvili, because Saakashvili had misled Europe. He misled the United States, unless were to think that it was all an American project and that Saakashvili just implemented it.

This was a total surprise as regards the peacekeeping contingent there. So he's a person who certainly does not deserve trust. But this is for the Georgians to decide.

KING: You know, there's a lot of questions in the United States.

Who in -- Mr. President, who holds the power in Russia?

Is it President Medvedev or is it Minister Putin?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I think that both have powers in accordance with the constitution. In accordance with the constitution, their powers, their competence is constitutional. Those are people who have known each other politically and in human terms for 15 years. And so no one should expect things in Russia to kind of go haywire.

It started when our prime minister was in Beijing during the opening of the Olympics. The president was taking decisions. He acted confidently and calmly, although this was a difficult emotional experience for him.

We have now seen what happened. Western television didn't show what happened in Tskhinvali. Only now, they're beginning to show some pictures of the destruction.

So this looks to me like it was a well prepared project and with any outcome they wanted to put the blame on Russia. I believe I can say responsibly, and I have a person who has a moral right to say so, Russia, in this situation, acted in responding to Georgian aggression.

KING: Can the United States trust your two leaders?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Certainly. Certainly, yes. And I have to tell you, I am pleased that even though dramatic and tragic things happened, there are still human relations between Russians and Georgians. And that mutual affection that developed over centuries is still there. It's now up to the politicians.

KING: We'll be right back with President Mikhail Gorbachev on this edition of LARRY KING LIVE right after this.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My call, of course, is for the territorial integrity of Georgia to be respected and for the cease-fire agreement to be honored.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We're back with President Mikhail Gorbachev.

He is in Moscow.

Do you fear, Mr. President, that the world is moving toward a new cold war?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, you know, it's been some time, for a couple of years, two or three years there's been talk about this, because we have seen -- we are seeing what is happening in Europe, in the Middle East and some other regions. We also see some things that are happening in the south, in Asia, in the south of Russia. And this is of some concern.

And what is of particular concern to me -- and this is something that I will be writing about in a special article -- and that is that we are witnessing -- definitely witnessing a process of militarization in the world today. And this is a big danger.

Military budgets are growing. Weapons trade is going on at a hectic pace. Look at Georgia. Had Georgia not been armed to the teeth, it wouldn't have done what it has done. A small state has a $1 billion military budget. All kinds of countries participated, but particularly the United States armed Georgia with sophisticated weapons -- aircraft, land weapons. Mountains of weapons were supplied to Georgia.

And I think that this is the inevitable outcome, when weapons budgets -- military budgets grow, when weapons pile up, it works one day. It actually shoots one day. And this is what happened.

So I think that the signs of a cold war are present. But we still have time to prevent it.

I wanted to add that I am greatly concerned about something that I've been watching. And, of course, I've been visiting the United States. I've been talking to people there. I've been talking to large audiences, groups of thousands of people. But I've been also talking to policy makers, business leaders and others. And I've been saying that we have not been able to establish a sound relationship between Russia and the United States after the end of the cold war.

I believe that the United States has made mistakes for which the people have to pay. For example, the military budget of the United States is over $600 billion. That's about half of the world's military budget. And I would say that we need a new agenda in relations of our two nations. There have been some attempts, some talk, but we've not been able to move things off the ground to sort out our relationship.

Often, under the guise of promoting national interests, so everything is forgotten. Everything is forgotten, such as the new realities of the world today, the interests of other countries. And then we see situations that lead to conflict.

Would Saakashvili have mustered the courage to create a situation that actually threatened a clash with Russia without support, without protection?

There was support and protection. And even now we see that the United States is trying to support and justify Saakashvili. I think you shouldn't be doing this, because this could cause even more complications. There is a chance for our two countries to develop a new agenda for cooperation so as to promote both U.S. and Russian interests, and the interests of other countries, and the interests of stability, particularly in the hot spots in different continents. And I welcomed the idea of creating a bipartisan commission on relations between Russia and the United States. I believe that this is a good idea and it will be useful for both of our countries.

KING: Mr. President, where is all of this going?

Are you at all optimistic?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, if things just are allowed to go on, if all of us just continue along the same lines of mistakes and illusions, without seeing the new realities to which we should adjust our policies -- I think we should do it on both sides. But if we don't do it, then it could really cause very severe complications.

The United States should not think that the attempt to decide every issue militarily will work. I believe that the United States -- the United States people don't want this. I wrote an article for "The Washington Post" and I have seen some of the more than 400 opinions of the people about this. And I was surprised that people are really seeing very clearly how important the relationship between Russia and the United States is. So let's listen to the people.

KING: We're almost out of time.

Do you expect Russia to withdraw from Georgia?

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, Russia doesn't need anything from Georgia. We just want this nation -- the people with whom we have been living for 300 years as friends and brothers, this friendship still continues. We don't want problems from there.

I don't think we have problems between our two nations. But outside interference pushes things in the wrong direction.

Of course, it's a big crossroads -- oil and oil pipelines, etc. And so we see competition. And I don't think that there's a need for so many weapons there and for conflicts.

In order to work things out, we need to reestablish trust and then we will be able to solve any problems. Without trust, no, that will not work. If we just have individual steps, that will not work.

In the second half of the 1980s, we worked together in a -- we created a new situation. We created trust. And based on that, we started to eliminate nuclear weapons. We started to reduce conventional weapons in Europe. We opened the way for people to choose -- to choose what they want to choose -- their regimes, their government, etc. And most of the regional conflicts were settled at that time, with the exception of the Middle East.

So trust is the key word.

KING: Mr. President, thank you.

Good seeing you again.

GORBACHEV (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Larry, I cannot see you, but I was very pleased to have a talk with you.

KING: And when we come back, Georgia's president, Mikhail Saakashvili, will respond.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We now welcome to LARRY KING LIVE, from Tbilisi, Georgia, the president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili.

Thank you very much for joining us, Mr. President.

What's your overall reaction to what president Gorbachev had to say?

He said that you were the aggressor.

PRES. MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI, GEORGIA: Well, you know, I'm not shocked to hear it from former KGB operatives like Vladimir Putin or his former defense minister, Sergei Ivanov. Those people come from the Orwellian world, where lying is just an instrument of communication.

But I'm profoundly shocked that somebody like Mikhail Gorbachev, for whom I had lots of respect in the past, well would use his appearance on your show for basically vindicating lies and deceptions.

This is the man, Gorbachev, who brought out tanks from Europe. And he is the man who is justifying bringing in 1,200 Russian tanks -- more than they ever brought to Afghanistan in the initial days of the invasion, or Czechoslovakia, into my country.

This is the man, Mr. Gorbachev, who helped to drag -- you know, bring down KGB kingdom. And he is the one who is, you know, justifying the KGB -- what the KGB people are doing right now in my country.

This is the man who has Nobel Peace Prize. And I guess the Nobel Peace Prize is given for some -- for things perpetuating peace and perpetuating human rights.

KING: So...

SAAKASHVILI: And this is the man who is justifying crimes against humanity taking place as we speak. And this is not like my words versus their words. This is human rights report...

KING: OK...

SAAKASHVILI: ...Human Rights Watch reported it.

KING: OK. Mr....

SAAKASHVILI: I have it in front of me -- crimes taking place in my country.

Just a second. So, Larry, my comment on Mr. Gorbachev is that -- I mean this is the guy who dealt with Reagan, took out the missiles, SS-20, from Europe. They shot us -- at us SS-21 missiles continuously at the residential areas.

So shame on him. Shame on you, Mr. Gorbachev, for perpetuating the very regime you helped to defeat and you put against at the head of the Soviet Union.

KING: All right, Mr. President, what do you make of it?

Why do you think he's speaking this way?

Assuming he's saying what he feels, what do you make of it?

SAAKASHVILI: Well, I think -- I think what's happening now, this is the man that brought down the Soviet Union. And Soviet Union is coming back. Vladimir Putin, remember he said the demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. And basically he's always thought that once Russia would get more weapons, once they would have more money, they would resuscitate the Soviet Union.

And that's exactly what he is attempting to do. That's what he was trying to do with my country for the last several years. And our only crime, Larry, was not to do something in one or this region of Georgia or the other region of Georgia.

For the last several years, the only reason why Russia has introduced an all-out embargo on all our exports, the only reason why they've bombed us continuously -- it's not the first time we are bombed. The only reason why they have done all kinds of provocation and also a media war against us was our desire to live free, as free men in a free society and to have our freedom of choice.

This is the only thing for Georgia -- for which my small country is being punished and butchered right now.

KING: What, then, do you think, Mr. -- what's going to happen?

Is Russia going to leave?

Are they going to try to force you out?

What's next?

SAAKASHVILI: Well, in first place, it was never about some region in Georgia, you know?

Russia made it very clear they wanted regime change in Georgia. They did it very officially. They tried to do it for economic embargo, through all kind of other facts. They didn't achieve it because people got united, where we have democracy. Like Russia, we have -- unlike Russia, we have the democratic system. We have free elections. We have free media. As we speak, even now, when my people are so united, there is criticism on Georgia media. This is normal.

This is not like Russia, where a propaganda machine. But what they are doing right now -- and you asked me what's next -- I don't know, because it's not only the Russian Army that came in. And we have tens of thousands of Russian soldiers going throughout my country right now. They occupy more than one third of my country.

My country, before their invasion, was a very prosperous, economically developed country. We don't have oil and gas, but we had freedom and we had a corrupt -- a corruption-free system.

Now, what they are doing, they brought with them a huge group of irregulars. These are people who are going around in military fatigues, heavily armed, most of them drunk or other kind of intoxication. You know, these are reports we get from different media outlets. They target journalists. They target people.

And here what is happening, from Human Rights Watch Report, Human Rights Watch watched -- witnessed a terrifying sense of destruction and looting by militias in the Georgian villages.

There are people thrown out from their houses and the remaining residents, incapacitated old people of these destroyed Georgian villages are facing desperate conditions with no means of survival -- no help, no protection and nowhere to go.

That's exactly what Mr. Gorbachev perpetrated. And you know when they talk about guilt, the Russian propaganda machine, supposed -- allegedly by the Georgian Army. Here, again, what this respected international human rights organization says: "The figure of people killed given by the Russians is very he doubtful.

Our findings so far do not in any way confirm the Russian statistics. On the contrary, they suggest the numbers are grossly exaggerated."

That's what independent observers are saying here.

But you know what, they're lying. And that's, again, in response to Mr. Gorbachev. These -- they are not lying just for fun.

Here, again, the Human Rights Watch says the torching of houses in the Georgian villages is, in some way. A result of the massive Russia propaganda machine, which constituted these claims of genocide and exaggerates the casualties.

That is then used to justify retribution. That's what Mr. Gorbachev and the other Russian, you know, propaganda instruments are perpetuating right now.

And these are not my words. This is not the blame game. That's what people who are present and brave people who are there on the side are saying.

KING: The United States secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is in France. She's making a formal cease-fire agreement for Georgia to sign.

Will you sign it?

SAAKASHVILI: Well, you know, the country got invaded. I'm provoked because we were, after continuous, you know, provocations, when we already saw that they were, you know, killing lots of people and when Russian tanks were already going through our border, we had to respond. And now they come in and certainly they want to get some kind of arrangement. Of course, we have very good contacts with U.S. administration. I -- yesterday, President Bush's very strong statement, I think, helped to deter direct Russian attack.

KING: Will you sign her --

SAAKASHVILI: Right now, we'll have to see what she has to bring. We are still in negotiating process. But one thing should be made clear" Russians are trying to justify their invasion and to legalize their presence in Georgia. As with our genuine international peacekeepers, with our genuine international transparency, these people are going to make much more trouble for us and for the rest of Europe. I think we should take a closer look at it.

KING: Thank you, Mr. President.