Saakashvili statement PR stunt - Margelov

Special envoy for the Russian President on cooperation with African countries, Senator Margelov called a statement by the Georgian authorities, that Russia is offering African countries a lot of money for the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a PR stunt.

"The essence of this statement is to try to attain some sort of informational advantage, said Margelov, commenting on the Interfax statement of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

"Russia has never offered a single African country any money for the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," said the senator.

According to him, the question of "recognition or no recognition," is far removed from contracts for exploration of mineral resources, banking and infrastructure development and the interaction of African economies. "That's what Russian officials in Africa are busy with," said Margelov.