"Against the failure of a military venture in the breakaway republic [South Ossetia], all the more evident are Georgia's acute socio-economic problems, on whose solution the Georgian leadership should focus all their energy instead of channeling it into the search for a non-existent outside enemy or the undermining of operations of the Russian Embassy in [the capital of] Tbilisi," the ministry says in a comment.
The comment comes after President Mikhail Saakashvili's statement that Georgia is on the brink of war and that if a war does break out, it will be with Russia, not South Ossetia. Russian officials say this statement shows the lack of the sense of proportion, bordering on irresponsibility.
"Militarist rhetoric has been increasingly prominent in statements by Tbilisi officials of late. On more than one occasion, hints and accusations have been made against the 'northern neighbor', alleged to be the source of all troubles and conflicts in Georgian territory. But the most recent statements reveal the lack of the sense of proportion, bordering on irresponsibility," the ministry says in its comment.
"There is no point in responding to all these provocative statements, as their absurdity is all too evident. Incidentally, it was promised a short while ago that 'bodies of dead Cossacks' would be produced for the entire world to see, but such promises have proved empty yet again."
The Russians are willing to help the Georgian people in their efforts to get the country back to normal. "We expect from Tbilisi some specific response to the constructive proposals that have recently been submitted to the Georgian leadership and that are aimed at comprehensive reinvigoration of Russo-Georgian relations on the basis of mutually respectful consideration of each other's interests, including in security, economics and humanitarian issues," the ministry points out. "There has been no response so far, and the talk about extending 'a hand of friendship' cannot replace it," it says emphatically in conclusion.
