Russia Foreign Minister Says Georgian President ‘Must Go’

The following is a verbatim firsthand account from the US Mission to the United Nations in New York City.

I want to focus however, on one point that Ambassador Churkin made. Ambassador Churkin referred to his minister’s phone conversation with Secretary of State Rice this morning. That conversation raises serious questions about Russian objectives.

In that conversation, Foreign Minister Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rice that the democratically elected President of Georgia “must go”.

I quote again: “Saakashvili must go.”

This is completely unacceptable and crosses a line. I want to ask Ambassador Churkin, is your government’s objective regime change in Georgia, the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Georgia. Mr. President, Russia must affirm their aim is not to change the democratically elected government of Georgia and it accepts the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia .

Complete remarks in the below links

http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080810_221.html

http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080810_219.html

http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080810_218.html