Obama, Medvedev Say Disagreement Remains on Georgia

The United States and Russia disagree on Georgia and it was discussed during the meeting with the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, President Obama said on June 24.

"Our two countries continue to disagree on certain issues, such as Georgia, and we addressed those differences candidly," he said at a joint news conference with the Russian counterpart in Washington.

"But by moving forward in areas where we do agree, we have succeeding in resetting our relationship, which benefits regional and global security. This includes, I would note, a change in the attitudes among the Russian people, who today have a far more favorable view of the United States, and that, in turn, creates more space for additional partnership," President Obama added.

President Medvedev said at the same joint news conference that Georgia was raised in the context of European security.

"We believe that we share a common view that Europe should have a security system," Medvedev said. "We have some differences – and Mr. President mentioned it – in terms of, for example, the after-effects of the conflict that was initiated by Georgia’s leadership in 2008."

"But these differences do not prevent us from discussing future and launching new mechanisms of contacts," the Russian President added.

A ten-page fact sheet, released by the White House on June 24 and detailing how President Obama has "reset" the relationship with Russia, among other issues, also addresses Georgia.

"The Obama Administration continues to have serious disagreements with the Russian government over Georgia. We continue to call for Russia to end its occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and in parallel have worked with the Russian government to prevent further military escalations in the region," it reads.

"We have witnessed some incremental confidence building measures, such as opening the border at Verkhniy Lars [Zemo Larsi-Kazbegi border crossing point between Russia and Georgia] and allowing direct charter flights between the two countries, and continue to press for the strengthening of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms and a return of international observers to the two occupied regions of Georgia."

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)