Democratic Movement Party Leader Burjanadze Meets Russia’s Duma Speaker

MOSCOW - Nino Burjanadze, the leader of the pro-Russian Democratic Movement party, met with Russia’s State Duma Chairman Sergey Naryshkin in Moscow on Wednesday.

 “We had a very interesting and constructive conversation. The meeting once again revealed the importance for Georgia to have direct, immediate dialogue with Russia’s high-ranking officials,” said Burjanadze.

According to Burjanadze, after the parliamentary elections, she will meet Russian government officials to bring the two countries closer together.

“This will help us to move to a new stage of closer relations and solve the problems which Georgia is facing,” she noted.

Burjanadze said she discussed her non-aligned initiative with Naryshkin.

According to Burjanadze’s plan, Georgia would be constitutionally bound to declaring itself neutral and would abandon its goal of joining the NATO alliance.

Burjanadze said she and her supporters plan to collect the required 200,000 signatures to have the initiative debated in the parliament.

“My Russian partners said that this (non-aligned) initiative would undoubtedly open new opportunities regarding relations between Georgia and Russia,” said Burjanadze.

Russia’s State Duma, or parliament, said in a press release that Burjanadze’s visit was substantial and constructive.

Burjanadze, who briefly served as acting president following the 2003 Rose Revolution, is regarded as one of Georgia’s staunchest pro-Russian politicians.

She has repeatedly denounced the current government’s Russia’s policy, saying the Georgian Dream has missed an opportunity to normalize relations with Moscow.

By Thea Morrison

Edited by Nicholas Waller