Russian President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili on February 21 within the framework of the CIS Summit. The Russian President expressed his concern over violation of the international law by the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, and claimed that Russia will take this fact into consideration for further its activities.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attending the meeting stressed firmness of the Russian stand with respect to the status of Kosovo and consistence of the Russia’s policy towards strict compliance with the international law.

According to the Minister, President Putin at his meeting with Mikhail Saakashvili “definitely outlined the conditions for normalization of the Russian- Georgian relations”. The Foreign Minister said: “The President especially stressed the need to adhere all agreements relating to the settlement of the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts taking into account all interests of the parties”.

Sergey Lavrov said that the presidents also discussed NATO expansion. “President Putin confirmed a principal stand of Russia that we see no actual reasons for this process, and explained in detail the consequences of this process, in particular, for the Russian-Georgian relations”, the Minister noted (Radio Mayak reports).