Matviyenko expects Russia-Georgia ties to improve after election

MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax) – Russia will respect any choice made by the Georgian people in the October 1 parliamentary election, Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, told journalists.

“Our country will respect any choice of the Georgian people. It is the Georgian people’s right to elect its parliament and the country’s leadership, and Russia has always said that we are interested in improving relations with the Georgian people,” she said.

Changes that will take place in Georgia after the parliamentary elections will positively impact ties with Russia, Matviyenko said.

“We are interested in it. It is always possible to find ways to resolve disputes together with Georgia’s sensible leaders and build mutually beneficial relations, a partnership free from any political tensions and radical decisions,” she said.

Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Chairman Viktor Ozerov, for his part, said that he did not expect Georgian-Russian relations to change seriously after the Monday elections.

“Although opposition forces are leading in the parliamentary elections, it will hardly be able to dramatically influence relations with Russia,” Ozerov said.

The Russian senator said he was primarily speaking about Tbilisi’s attitude to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“Those who will succeed today’s leaders are unlikely to recognize these territories’ independence. It would be tantamount to declaring themselves a political corpse. More than one generation will come and go before people start to accept other political realities,” he said.

The possible defeat of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party in the elections would mean that the Georgian people reject his policies, he said.

“It reflects the people’s choice. Consequently, the opposition forces are leading. We can hope that relations with Russia will change. It is important both for Russia and Georgia,” Ozerov said.