Georgian President: Georgia's independence in danger

Georgia's independence is still in danger, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said during a meeting with students.

"I reiterate that tanks and planes are not our primary defense, though we must have plenty of all of this," he said, continuing that "If we had not had all of this, in 2008 the occupied forces would have been here within six hours."

Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia and later Russian troops occupied the city and drove the Georgian military back to Georgia. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Aug. 26 and established diplomatic relations with them on Sept. 9, 2008.

Saakashvili said that Georgia lost its independence only because it was isolated in 1921.

"We have become a part of the world because you send messages, participate in international conferences and study abroad," he said. "All this is a new chance to strengthen our independence. Naturally, the world events hit us, but they also bring many advantages."

According to Saakashvili, a new political force is emerging which will never accept the loss of independence.

"We have different types of politicians," he said. "They think that the only way to be rescued is to call on those who stand 40 kilometers from the capital. They called the national body mentally ill, livestock even ... If you call the people cattle and then say - vote for us, naturally there is no hope of winning. Of course, they can no longer hope in gaining support from the people, so they wait on those who are 40 kilometers away."


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