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TBILISI–Georgia's president struck a conciliatory tone towards Russia as its troops were due to start leaving his country today, urging Moscow to discuss ways to avoid "discord for future generations."
In a television address recorded for broadcast today, President Mikheil Saakashvili demanded Russia leave Georgian territory, but also made a plea to mend fences.
"I appeal to you that after your armed forces leave Georgian territory, to start serious thinking and discussions about further negotiations, a further search for ways (to conduct) relations in order not to sow discord between our countries for good," Saakashvili said in the broadcast, which his press office made available to Reuters in advance.
"Let's not sow discord for future generations. I don't appeal to your mercy but I appeal to your pragmatism and simple common sense. I think the time to make the right decisions has come."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared yesterday that troops who stormed in after a failed Georgian attempt to retake the pro-Russian breakaway region of South Ossetia, would begin pulling out around midday.
The 10-day confrontation has killed about 200 Georgians, dealt a blow to the Georgian military, damaged the country's economy, disrupted road and rail links and drew Western criticism of Saakashvili's handling of the crisis.
Saakashvili's softer tones towards Moscow contrast strongly with tough rhetoric both sides have used until now.
Each side has accused the other of attempted genocide.
Russia says some 1,600 people were killed in the initial Georgian shelling of the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, while Georgia accuses Russian and irregular forces of levelling Georgian villages around Tskhinvali.
Russia's withdrawal is due to go ahead under a six-point ceasefire plan brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, acting on behalf of the European Union. The Russians have not set a deadline for its completion but say it depends on stability in Georgia.
In Gori yesterday, a strategic central city in the small former Soviet republic, there were signs of a looser Russian grip – and scenes of desperation as Georgians crowded around aid vehicles and grasped for loaves of bread.
Virtually all shops were closed and the streets almost empty, save for clusters of people who gathered around aid vehicles and a basement bakery.
The conflict has rattled the West, which draws oil and gas through pipelines across Georgian territory from the Caspian region; a route favoured because it bypasses Russia.
Yesterday evening, Russian armoured personnel carriers and tanks carrying military hardware travelled away from Senaki on a road that leads to Zugdidi, a city just outside Abkhazia – possibly pulling out, though their destination was unclear.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Medvedev to withdraw troops quickly.
"This time I hope he means it," she told NBC's Meet the Press. "The word of the Russian president needs to be upheld by his forces or people are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted."
The White House is struggling to figure out the best way to penalize Russia. It doesn't want to deeply damage existing co-operation on many fronts or discourage Moscow from further integrating itself into global economic and political institutions. At the same time, U.S. officials say Russia can't be allowed to get away with invading its neighbour.
"There's no doubt there will be further consequences," said Rice, who briefed President George W. Bush on the fast-changing crisis over the weekend at his Texas ranch.
She returned to Washington yesterday and is flying to Brussels, Belgium, today to talk with NATO allies about what message the West should send to Russia.
Rice is then flying to Warsaw, Poland, where she will sign a formal agreement with Poland for the establishment of a missile interceptor site there. Moscow has protested the U.S. plans for such a base so close to its borders.
Russia can't use "disproportionate force" against Georgia and still be welcomed into the halls of international institutions, Rice said.
"It's not going to happen that way," she said. "Russia will pay a price.''
Russian military analyst Pavel Felgengauer said hardliners in Moscow wanted the conflict to achieve Saakashvili's overthrow and the destruction of the Georgian army and would be disappointed with a lesser result.
He argued that the Georgian military, though it withdrew in the face of Russian advances, had escaped without serious casualties or materiel losses.
"For them (the hardliners), the strategic aim of the invasion was not achieved, so it was a defeat ... This creates problems in Moscow."
Powerful businessmen were, he said, also dissatisfied by big losses incurred on financial markets following the invasion and the danger of Western sanctions.
Georgia, he said, could now reckon with increased U.S. investment and support and a consequent strengthening of American influence and commitment in an area Moscow historically sees as its ``backyard."
The conflict began on Aug. 7 when Georgia launched an attempt to retake South Ossetia, which broke with Tbilisi after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russia struck back, pouring troops into South Ossetia and then occupying areas in the Georgian heartland.
With files from Associated Press
