Saakashvili Wants to Tighten Coast Guard Control

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili warned today Georgia’s neighbors to avoid violation of Georgia’s territorial waters, especially in the breakaway Abkhazia’s section.

“The Abkhaz separatists should know that we do not intend to launch a war against them. However, we should not allow Abkhazia to become the center of drug and arms trafficking. I, as a Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will order to open fire against those ships, which do not obey the orders of the Georgian authorities. We have not donated Abkhazia to any country; it is our territory and everyone, who wants to enter it, should have our permission,” President Saakashvili said at the awarding ceremony on February 20.

The Georgian coast guard service has recently seized several ships, which were sailing in Georgia’s territorial waters in breakaway Abkhazia under the flags of Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Officials say the ships were detained for illegal fishing in the Georgian territorial waters.
 
Today President Saakashvili awarded those Georgian coast guards, who participated in these operations with up to 1,500 Lari ($680) each.

At the awarding ceremony Saakashvili also called Russia for assisting Georgia in preventing illegal entry of foreign ships in Georgia’s territorial waters.

“Russia should be interested in eradication of illegal trade in weapons and drugs. So, we should jointly control the borders,” the President added.