Russia, Georgia pledge to address issues

STRELNA, Russia, June 6 (UPI) -- The presidents of Russia and Georgia said after a Friday meeting they believe the tensions between the two countries can be resolved through diplomacy.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said after his first meeting with his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Saakashvili, since Medvedev took office in May that the leaders plan to address the issues, including Russia's alleged support for breakaway regions in Georgia and the Georgian government's plans to join NATO, Novosti reported Friday.

"I believe we are capable of resolving all problems" without mediators, Medvedev said.

Saakashvili agreed that there have been "unresolved issues in bilateral relations, but none were unsolvable."

Medvedev said other European leaders have expressed concern about the strained relations between the two former Soviet republics, Itar-Tass reported.

"I was visiting Germany yesterday and was speaking with German colleagues. They are concerned over the fate of Russian-Georgian relations," he said.