State Minister Denies Links with Arms Movement in South Ossetia

State Minister Goga Khaindrava, who is in charge of conflict resolution issues, denied on July 7 that he had information regarding the transfer of a large number of Russian arms in breakaway South Ossetia.

Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili said that several members of the Georgian cabinet, including those responsible for holding talks with the South Ossetian side, were informed about the planned movement of the arms. The Russian side also reported that the deployment of extra arms in South Ossetia was agreed upon by the Georgian side in frames of the Joint Control Commission (JCC). State Minister Khaindrava represents Georgia at the JCC.

?The Interior Minister should know the facts before making these kinds of statements. The agreement over the deployment of the Russian helicopters and ammunition into the conflict zone was reached by the JCC back in 1996. Therefore, I have nothing in common with this agreement,? Khaindrava told reporters after a cabinet meeting on July 7.

Russia claims that the agreement to create a helicopter command center for the Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone was reached at the session of the JCC on June 2. Khaindrava, however, denies this.

?Only the agreement reached on July 10, 1996 [and not the most recent one] envisages the deployment of two Russian helicopters into the conflict zone,? Khaindrava said.