Shevardnadze Jokes on Russian Foreign Minister’s Statement on Bin-Laden

(Tbilisi, February 18, Civil Georgia) – President Shevardnadze commented Russian Foreign Affairs Minister’s statement concerning Bin-Laden’s possible presence in Pankisi gorge and stated that this announcement astonished him.

“Igor Ivanov’s [Russian Foreign Minister] mother’s home is in Akhmeta district [Pankisi gorge is situated there]. Maybe we shall find Bin-Laden there?” – President joked on the Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov’s statement.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov stated at the news briefing in Paris after meeting with his French counterpart on February 15 that Osama Bin-Laden may be in Pankisi gorge.