Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili offered Friday his own 'road map' for the resolution of the conflicts, envisioning the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping contingents and demilitarization of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, with mediation from the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the European Union.
Russia has maintained a peacekeeping presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia since the early 1990s, when both regions declared their independence from Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union and a bloody conflict with Georgia.
"By maintaining its presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia wants to prolong the conflict, which could cause it to spread to other countries," Saakashvili said.
Commenting on Saakashvili's statement, Putin said he was a very emotional politician but "was concerned about the situation in his country."
"I believe that striving for dialogue and compromise should be a basis of any [conflict] resolution," Putin said. "If all sides involved in a conflict display this political will, we can hope for a result. Russia is ready to act as a guarantor of any possible agreements."
He also said the leaders of Germany and France shared his position.
Saakashvili said Georgia would use peaceful means to resolve the conflicts, but act persistently and without delays. He also said the South Caucasus state was ready to hold negotiations with Russia on the issue, but only on a multilateral basis, and with the participation of international bodies.
