Georgia and South Ossetia should resolve problems in their relations themselves, and not seek solutions from third countries, particularly the United States, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
"This is a deal between two contracting parties... There is no need to look for a solution on the side," Putin said commenting on a statement by U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Georgia on Monday.
Earlier, Clinton said the United States firmly support Georgia's sovereignty.
Long-standing tensions between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia turned violent during a five-day war in August 2008, when Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia, where most residents are Russian passport holders, in an attempt to bring it back under central control.
"We had not initiated that war, the responsibility is on those who started it," Putin said.
The premier added that somebody believed South Ossetia had been occupied, somebody thought it to be liberated, but that was the matter of dialogue between the two countries - Georgia and South Ossetia. "And there is no need to interfere with this dialogue, referring to third parties".
"America is America. Georgia is Georgia. Russia is Russia. And Ossetia is Ossetia. There is no need to refer anybody and wait for a God-send," Putin said.
Urging Tbilisi and Tskhinvali to settle the conflict themselves, Putin quoted Eugene Pottier's The Internationale (written in 1871), saying: "There are no supreme saviors, neither God, nor Caesar, nor tribune".
MOSCOW, July 5 (RIA Novosti)
