We failed to cooperate with the former Georgian leadership, the Russian president told journalists on Saturday. "Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili proposed to develop our anti-terrorist cooperation on his own initiative," Mr. Putin said.
In particular, Mr. Saakashvili offered joint patrolling, joint special operations and some other forms of cooperation.
"These are daring and far-reaching proposals. If they are implemented, Russian-Georgian relations will be raised to a new level," the head of state said.
Speaking about visa regulations on the Russian-Georgian border, Vladimir Putin said, "Visa regulations have nothing to do with good or bad personal relations with the Georgian leadership. It is connected with anti-terrorism".
"Our purpose is to get rid of terrorists' backing in Georgian territory. If it is realized, we shall have no grounds to preserve visa regulations," the Russian president stressed.
