TBILISI. Sept 30 (Interfax) - The Georgian and Russian leaderships are holding secret talks on recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, the Georgian opposition said.
The statement followed a positive comment by Georgian Dream ruling party Secretary General Kakha Kaladze on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's remark that Moscow was ready to help Tbilisi normalize relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"Obviously, the Georgian leadership is preparing to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states on Moscow's orders, alongside abandoning the Euro-Atlantic course. They may have a plan for setting up a confederation in which Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia will have equal rights," a leader of the Lelo opposition party Salome Samadashvili told reporters on Monday.
The remarks by Georgian Dream Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, who said former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili waged a war on Tskhinval and must be prosecuted for doing that together with his party, United National Movement, is part of the plan, she said.
Kaladze said the Georgian leadership positively assessed Lavrov's statement.
"Our leadership positively assesses this statement, however, Moscow should take effective steps as well, for instance, withdraw Russian troops from our occupied territories," he said.
There is no alternative to reconciliation with the Abkhaz and Ossetian peoples, Kaladze said.