U.S. ambassador on Sochi Olympics and Georgia’s role

Georgian government is facing growing calls for boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The US Ambassador in Georgia Richard Norland said on Tuesday that Georgia seeks to take constructive steps in its relations with Russia, which is very important for the regions security.

Norland commented on Georgias participation in the Sochi Olympic Games after the President-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili said he hadnt decided yet if he will attend the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in his November 10 interview with Russian TV Channel 1. However, he considers that "this is a good beginning not to create any political tension.

"I believe that Margvelashvili declared the positions of the Georgian nation in his interview on Russia's First Channel. Despite the fact that Russia has occupied 20 % of Georgia's territory, this country seeks to take constructive steps in its relations with Russia and I think that this is very important for the region's security," Norland said.

"When coming to the issue of Georgia's participation at the Sochi Olympics, the decision about this will be made later. Nearer to holding the games, Norland noted.

The debates about Georgias participation in the Sochi Olympic Games intensified after Russias decision to make its military pilot, Ivan Nechayev., as one of those 13,990 torchbearers, who are part of the 123-day Olympic torch relay across Russia before it reaches Sochi in February. He received the heros award for safely landing a damaged aircraft during the August 2008 war with Georgia.