MOSCOW, March 12 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow is open to any fruitful steps towards normalization of Russian-Georgian relations, a senior spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said Monday.
"A rection of the Georgian side to our proposals has confirmed that the statements on interestedness in a better relationship with Russia, which we hear occasionally from Tbilisi, are nothing more than propaganda gimmicks called upon to project an image of amicability," said Maria Zakharova, a deputy director of the ministry's Information Department.
"Saakashvili showed his genuine attitude towards Russia and its citizens in a recent speech in Baku," she said. "Maniacal hostility cobmined with the megalomania typical of the Georgian president transformed into an appeal to all the peoples of the post-Soviet space -- and for an unclear reason to the Russian 'patriots' of some kind -- to join hands with one another for fighting with Russia."
"It's a great pity that the parliament of a friendly country offered its rostrum for these hilarious verbal escapades," Zakharova said.
"Yet in spite of Georgian officialdom's hostility and propagandistic maneuvers, the Russian side remains open to any fruitful steps towards normalization of Russian-Georgian relations," she said.