Security Minister Rejects Terrorist Presense in Georgia

(Tbilisi, May 21, 2003. Civil Georgia) – At a press conference on May 20, the State Security Minister of Georgia Valeri Khaburdzania did not rule out that Al-Qaeda terrorist training camps might exist in the separatist-controlled Abkhazian territory.

This was the Minister’s comment to the information, broadcasted by ABC TV, that Al-Qaeda network members undergo training on Abkhazian territory and then move to Turkey.

As Khaburdzania said, he has made the statement about possible presence of terrorists in Abkhazia, including Top Can, organizer of hijacking of the Russian “Avrasia” ship, in 2002.

As the Minister informed that he had a meeting with US Ambassador Richard Miles concerning the issue. However, the Ambassador said that FBI has not provided him with any such information, although ABC claimed that the news was based on the information of the Bureau.

“Presence of terrorist or guerilla training camps on the territory, controlled by the Georgian government, is completely impossible” – Khaburdzania said.

Chairman of the Georgian National Security Council Tedo Japaridze also dismissed claims of terrorists presence in Georgia, saying that such disinformation is distributed by those who seek destabilization in Georgia.

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