MOSCOW, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said on Wednesday that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Minsk were "useful."

    "During one-on-one talks we discussed all core aspects of Georgian-Russian relations. I think the talks were useful," Saakashvili was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    The Georgian leader made the remarks one day after he, Putin and other heads of state met in the Belarus capital for a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

    Saakashvili's remarks comes as Georgia and Russia are locked ina bitter dispute triggered by the brief detention of Russian officers in Georgia on spying charges in late September.

    Moscow, infuriated by the arrests, has imposed an economic blockade on Tbilisi by cutting transport and postal links, and has deported Georgians accused of staying in Russia illegally.

    Also terming the Putin-Saakashvili talk as "useful", Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Tuesday that Saakashvili exchanged views with Putin during the meeting. "The dialogue was useful and calm and gives the hope that bilateral relations will improve with the good will of both parties," he said.

    However, on the Georgian-Russian dispute, Saakashvili did not seem to budge. "It's time for us Georgians to understand that Russia does not play the decisive role for us. Georgia's future and plans will be mapped out only in Tbilisi and in other cities of Georgia," he said.