US, Russian Defense Chiefs Talked on Pankisi

(Tbilisi, March 2, Civil Georgia) – Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov held a phone conversation with his US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld on US military assistance to Georgia and situation in Pankisi gorge on March 1, Russian Defense Ministry reports.

US Secretary of Defense stated that assistance program is two-phased. At the firs stage US military experts will examine situation in the region, then the special train-and-equip program will be implemented for the Georgian armed forces.

The US and Russian Defense Chiefs agreed on regular exchange of information concerning the situation in the region.