Georgia will respond "appropriately" to threats to its territorial integrity, President Saakashvili said on February 18.

Below is Saakashvili’s full statement:

“I’ve heard threats made in this [Kosovo] context against Georgia’s territorial integrity more than once in the last few years. Today the situation is very serious. It is expected that Kosovo will be recognized by many states today and tomorrow, and I know some are talking about Georgia’s [secessionist] territories [in this respect].

Firstly, I want to say that state agencies should work in a very organized manner, in a normal way and no one should hinder their functioning, whatever the international situation is.

Secondly, I want our people, as well as the international community, to understand that we can and we have the power to undertake effective action in response to the moves directed against Georgia in this [Kosovo] context .

We will meet any provocation and we will respond with appropriate measures. I do not advise anyone to poke their nose into this issue or escalate tension.

We want to resolve all the issues peacefully – we do not need any unrest now – but Georgia will not step back.”