Newly elected Georgian President Georgy Margvelashvili delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony in Tbilisi November 17, 2013. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian President Georgy Margvelashvili said he was ready to mend ties with Russia strained under his predecessor by a brief war and by trade disputes, but stood by the ex-Soviet state's pro-Western course at his inauguration on Sunday.
Former President Mikheil Saakashvili led Georgia in a disastrous five-day war with Russia in 2008, which cemented Moscow's control of two rebellious Georgian regions. His exit removes the main irritant in relations with Moscow.
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