Putin: Russia Ready to Act as Guarantor in Conflict Resolution

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently visiting France, said on September 23 that Russia is ready to act as a guarantor in the settlement of ?frozen conflicts? on the territory of Georgia.

?I think that any settlement should be based on striving for dialogue and compromise. If all sides involved in the conflict demonstrate such political will, a certain result may be achieved,? Putin said at a joint news briefing with his French and German counterparts, Jacques Chirac and Angela Merkel.

He added that the German and French leaders share this position.

This statement came after President Saakashvili?s speech to the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22, in which he said that Russia is trying to annex the Georgian conflict zones and the Russian-led peacekeeping operations in the conflict zones hinder peace process.

?Mikhail Nikolayevich [Saakashvili] is an especially emotional person, but he is very concerned about the situation in his country,? Putin said.

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