Shevardnadze promises to combat terrorism together with Russia

Georgian President Edward Shevardnadze promises that his country will actively combat terrorism side by side with Russia.

"Georgia fully recognizes the vital importance of closely cooperating and being friends with Russia," he said in a National Radio interview on Monday.

"It can be said without exaggeration that the role and place of Russia as of Georgia's closest neighbour and strategic partner are absolutely unique," he said.

"Georgia will actively cooperate with Russia in several aspects of regional and interstate security, in the sense of combating terrorism as well," the president stressed. He pointed out to "productive cooperation" between special services and border guards of the two countries.

Speaking about Georgia's aspiration to join NATO, Shevardnadze insisted there was "no objective reason" for Russia to take it so bad. In his opinion, Russia is getting to cooperate with NATO closer than Georgia is.