(Tbilisi, June 26, Civil Georgia) – “Georgia and Russia should find mutual acceptable way of cooperation to solve the problems in Pankisi gorge,” Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli Menagharishvili told the reporters on June 26.
Menagharishvili commented on Russian President’s statement, in which he said that nobody would be able to “resolve the terrorist-related problems in the Pankisi Gorge, without direct and active participation of the Russian special services and army units”.
Georgian Foreign Minister said that the Georgian-Russian cooperation in this respect should be positive for the both countries and it must not be the way for further deterioration of situation in the gorge.
Russia constantly demands from Georgia to carry out joint operation against the Chechen fighters and terrorist groups hiding in Georgia’s troubled Pankisi gorge. Georgia is categorically against of the proposal.
Spokesman of the US Department of State Richard Boucher said at the news briefing on June 25 Georgia is responsible and capable to control border in cooperation “obviously with neighbors and Russia.”
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