TBILISI, May 6 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) - Georgia is willing to develop friendly relations with Russia from the position of an independent state, President Mikhail Saakashvili said Saturday.
The statement came against the backdrop of Russia's banning imports of Georgian wines in March and mineral waters in the last few days because health authorities said they failed to meet standards.
"We want to make friends with you [Russia], want to see your tourists, want to bring our production to your market, but you have to understand that Georgia is an independent state," Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili said the embargo on Georgian wines and mineral waters hurt "first of all the interests of Russian consumers."
He also urged Russians to abandon the stereotypical image of a Georgian as "a cartoon character - a man with moustache who can only cook shashlik [shish kebab], sell tangerines in the market and propose toasts."
