Patriarch of All Georgia Ilya II: Eduard Shevardnadze was right to resign

'Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze did a wise thing by resigning as he has saved Georgia from a bloody war.' As Rosbalt reports, this was announced by Patriarch of All Georgia Ilya II at a meeting of religious leaders from the Caucasus region with the Russian Orthodox Church. 'Georgia has faced many problems recently,' he said. 'We must do all we can to protect the territorial integrity of our countries, so that there is complete understanding and cooperation between our peoples.'

The patriarch said he had met Acting President Nino Burdjanadze and other leaders before his arrival in Moscow who asked him to tell Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexei II that Georgia is ready to resume its close ties with Russia and other neighbouring countries, especially Armenia and Azerbaijan.