Saakashvili not invited at EU summit

The presidency of the EU, France, has turned down the request of Poland and the Baltic States to invite the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili at the opening, on September 1 in Brussels, of an extraordinary EU summit. "Saakashvili will not be at the summit" - said a member of the EU secretariat. (Itar-Tass)

The Summit of Heads of States and Governments, convened by the EU French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who chairs the EU, at the request of Poland and a number of Eastern European States, will discuss the situation in Georgia and EU policy towards Russia. (KP)

In an interview with the German Bild, the Georgian leader said that he is unwilling to travel outside the country, as he fears that Russia will not allow him to return. Saakashvili suggested that Russia may close the airspace of Georgia and he will not be able to get back to Tbilisi. That is why, Saakashvili explained, the extraordinary EU summit on September 1 will be without his participation. (Echo Moscow)