Russia Renews Accusation of Georgia in Harboring Militants
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| Burjanadze: Talks with Putin will be frank |
Russian military bases in Georgia, issue of breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as Moscow’s recent unilateral decision to impose simplified visa regime with Adjara Autonomous Republic will be addressed during Nino Burjanadze’s talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for December 25.
However, as Nino Burjanadze said on December 23, she does not anticipate that all the problems that heat up disputes between Russia and Georgia will be solved with this visit.
“The main goal of my visit is to open new page in relations between Russia and Georgia and restore trust between the two countries,” Nino Burjanadze told reporters on December 23.
“I am sure talks with Mr. Putin will be very frank,” she added.
“With this visit, at first, we will try to normalize relations, and if possible to increase level of cooperation. Of course, we will also try to find new approaches to the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict, as well as conflict in Samachablo [South Ossetia]. The peace process is actually frozen now,” Tedo Japaridze, Georgian Foreign Minister told reporters on December 24.
“I don’t think that the talks will focus on the one particular issue. The negotiations will be over the general bilateral relations,” Russian ambassador to Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili told reporters on December 24.
Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko said on December 23 while commenting on the visit of the Georgian Interim President to Russia, that Moscow supports restoration of “friendly relations with Georgia” and hopes “Burjanadze’s visit will significantly contribute to it.”
Nino Burjanadze said upon her arrival in Moscow that the issue of visa regime between Russia and Georgia will also be discussed. Russia’s unilateral decision to impose simplified visa regime only for Adjara Autonomous Republic further irritated Georgian authorities.
Tbilisi accused Russia of trying to undermine its sovereignty by introducing a new visa regime for Adjaria.
Russian President’s aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky said at a news briefing in Moscow on December 24 that Georgia “still remains a hideout for Chechen militants” and thus there are “no pre-conditions for lifting visa regime with Georgia.”
“During the operation in Sezhi-Yurt [Chechnya] the Russian troops destroyed camp of militants. Two citizens of Turkey, one citizen of Algeria and one German citizen were found among the militants, killed during the clash. All of them had passports with the Georgian visas,” Yastrzhembsky.
“This proves once again that Georgia was and now is the hideout for the terrorists, who infiltrate into Russia from [Georgia’s] Pankisi gorge,” Russian President’s aide said.
He did not rule out that the issue of Pankisi gorge will be also discussed during the talks between Nino Burjanadze and Vladimir Putin. Last September Russian President threatened with the pre-emptive strikes against the terrorists harboring in Pankisi gorge.
Georgian Interim President visited Pankisi gorge on December to inspect the checkpoints of internal troops, which have been deployed in the gorge since last summer to tackle the terrorist threat in Pankisi. Georgian authorities claim that are no more armed groups in Pankisi gorge any more.