The Georgian opposition’s victory in the October 1 parliamentary elections has showed that the population of this country wants changes, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on October 2.

“If these results become real, the political landscape of Georgia will become more diverse. It can only be welcomed, because probably it means that more constructive and responsible forces will come to the Parliament,” RIA Novosti quoted PM Medvedev as saying.

Earlier on October 2, Valentina Matviyenko, the Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, said that the preliminary results of the Georgian parliamentary elections gave hope for the improvement of Russian-Georgian relations.

“We hope very much that the changes, which will be taking place in Georgia, will have a positive influence on the improvement of our relations; we are extremely interested in it,” RIA Novosti quoted Matviyenko as saying.

Speaking at a press conference on October 2, Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream coalition, said that his government “will spare no efforts to achieve friendly relations with a big neighbor,” adding that “it will not be easy.”

“We will do our best to settle relations with Russia,” he told reporters. “Although the situation is extremely difficult, the relations are deadlocked, I think that it is possible to restore at least cultural and trade relations in the near future.”

He also said that it in case of right diplomatic moves it would be possible to convince Russia that Georgia’s NATO membership posed no threat to Moscow.

“Our aspiration will be Europe and in terms of security – NATO. This is our strategy and we will not change our strategy,” he said. “Simultaneously, we have a huge obligation and huge desire to settle relations with our biggest neighbor.”