Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili welcomed Nicolas Sarkozy's victory in the French presidential elections and said that Sarkozy had always been a friend of Georgia’s.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his visiting Estonian counterpart, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, in Tbilisi on May 7, Saakashvili said that he had several very interesting meetings with Sarkozy in the past.

He also said that Sarkozy would be a future General Charles de Gaulle.

Saakashvili noted that Europe “needs changes” and the French president-elect was a person with the courage necessary to carry out these changes.

Salome Zourabichvili, ex-foreign minister and leader of opposition Georgia’s Way party, also welcomed Sarkozy’s victory. It was, she said, very important for Georgia.