Shevardnadze Says Russia not to Receive UN Sanction on Operation in Pankisi

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 5, 2002) – Georgian President ruled out that the Russia would receive the UN Security Council’s sanction on carrying out anti-terrorist operation in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge. At the news briefing on August 5, Eduard Shevardnadze said, “this will not happen.”

“We should initiate consultation with the UN Security Council concerning the anti-terrorist operation in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge,” Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the Russian Federal Council, upper branch of the Parliament, Committee on Foreign Affairs stated on August 4, Russian media sources report.

Earlier Chairman of the Federal Council Sergei Mironov said that Russia might appeal to the UN for the carrying out anti-terrorist operation in Pankisi.

Georgian President said today “Russia will not seek for the UN sanction and the Security Council will reject the proposal as it would be interference in Georgia’s internal affairs.”