Georgian president meets Putin

(12 Feb 2004) RUS GEORGIA 110204N


1. Kremlin exteriors
2. Zoom in Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and taking seats
3. Vladimir Putin talking to Saakashvili
4. Saakashvili listening
5. Two presidents talking
6. Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Saakashvili
7. Zoom out of Marriott hotel exteriors
8. Zoom out of Mikhail Saakashvili shaking hands with the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov
9. Cameramen
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia
"I come here to make friends with Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin) and I want to say that in reality he is more impressive than on TV. To my mind, it was a very interesting and sincere talk."
11. Diplomats
12. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia
"Naturally, Georgia's position is absolutely clear. There are agreements on the withdrawal of these bases and they should be honoured. But we should not allow the issue of bases to become the bone of contention between Russia and Georgia".
13. Saakashvili talking to journalists

STORYLINE:

Russia and Georgia have agreed to renew discussions on Abkhazia, a Georgian separatist region bordering Russia, an aide to President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after the president's meeting with Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili.

Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in a war in the 1990s and has been de-facto independent since then under pro-Russian leadership.

Georgia has frequently accused Russia of pressuring Tbilisi by supporting Abkhazia and separatist South Ossetia, controlling much of the country's energy supplies and maintaining two military bases on its territory.

Moscow, in turn, has said Georgia is a transit route for foreign mercenaries and extremist funds earmarked for Chechen rebels.

After several hours of talks the Georgian and Russian presidents agreed on renewing working groups that would discuss refugee return, renewal of rail connections that run through Abkhazia and other issues around the conflict.

According to the Kremlin experts, Russia regards Saakashvili as a leader with whom Russia can have "objective conversations."

Saakashvili, on a two-day visit to improve often-tense relations between his small, struggling country and its giant neighbour, told Putin that Georgia respects Russia's interests.

Georgia's 157 (m) million (US) dollar debt to Russia also was expected to be discussed by the presidents.

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