Medvedev pledges to restore ties with Georgia

Moscow, Sep 19 (UNI) President Dmitry Medvedev today said Russia will do everything possible to restore regular relations with Georgia.

''We believe in the Georgian people's good sense and will do everything possible to restore regular, friendly relations,'' Mr Medvedev said while addressing a meeting of NGOs in the Kremlin.

He also expressed regret that anti-Russian propaganda in Georgia has affected longstanding ties, but said he believed they would improve eventually.

The President also blamed NATO for provoking the conflict, and urged for new pan-European security arrangements.

He said NATO was unable to ensure security in Europe, which ''is understood even by those who in private conversations with me had said 'NATO will take care of everything.''' ''What did NATO ensure? It only provoked the conflict, nothing else,'' Mr Medvedev said.

He said Russia would not let anyone push it from the path of democracy towards self-isolation and dictatorship.

''We will not return to saying that the country is in an extraordinary situation or that we are surrounded by enemies. This will not happen. We made our choice a long time ago and it was a choice achieved through the suffering of our people,'' Mr Medvedev stressed.

UNI XC SKB GC1947