Georgia\'s NATO ambitions have put a strain on relations with Russia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a Berlin forum sponsored by the German Society of International Politics. \"Georgian-Russian relations have soured after Georgia openly announced its aspirations for NATO membership,\" he said. \"We told the Russians openly that we want to join NATO. We heard from them in response that our friendship would not be possible in this case,\" the president said. \"Georgia made its choice in favor of the European Union and NATO, because it shares their fundamental values,\" Saakashvili said. The president accused third parties of standing behind the conflicts inside Georgia, he said. \"We have no problems either with the people of Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Rather, we have problems with the governments appointed by Russia to rule Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But, in spite of all this, we are trying to settle these conflicts peacefully, but the Russians are standing in our way even in this effort,\" he said. (Interfax)