|
Georgian
State Security Minister, Vahtang Kutateladze said, that at the order of special
services of the country, there was traced a radio interception of negotiations
of the Russian military men, in which it is communicated that «bombardment is
completed, and helicopters are leaving territory of Georgia». This was declared
by Kutateladze in broadcast of the First channel of Georgian TV upon termination
of an extraordinary session of council of national security of Georgia, held in
the evening on Tuesday in the chairmanship of president Eduard Shevardnadze.
At
session of council of national security was discussed situation in Abkhazia and
security measures to be taken for Georgian population of Kodori Gorge, where
some villages in the morning on Tuesday were bombarded by planes and helicopters
without recognition symbols. According of State Security Minister if the
situation in Abkhazia will become aggravated even more, then Russia has formal
bases to postpone conclusion of the military base from Gudauta till uncertain
time. According to resolutions of summit of OSCE in Istanbul in 1999, 50th
military base of Russian should be withdrawn from Gudauta by July 1, 2001.
Russian side explained violation of terms established by OSCE, that there were
protests of the population of Abkhazia against liquidation of this base.
Leadership
of Georgia does not talk yet about the beginning of operations in Abkhazia,
despite of frank preparations of the Abkhazian authorities for war, assistant to
secretary of the council of national security of Georgia, Jemal Gakhokidze
declared. As he said, to predict beforehand about development of situation is
rather difficult, however, «the time has come, when Georgia should be ready for
all». Russia had no and has no rights to strike raids on territory of Georgia,
emphasized Gakhokidze, making comments on reports of bombing by Russian aircraft
on Georgian villages of Kodor Gorge.
He
noted, that after the return from the place of bombardment of the experts of
Defence Ministry and Frontier Department of Georgia, the appropriate attention
and estimation would be given to this fact by leadership of the country. If it
will be proved to be true, that the aircraft of other country bombed territory
of Georgia, it will be anticipated as one of episodes of military actions, told
Gakhokidze. According to his information, the president of Georgia, Eduard
Shevardnadze yet did not discuss the situation developing in Abkhazia with
Russian leadership.
At
the same time, former Georgian Defence Minister, Member of Parliament, George
Karkarashvili said, that deployed in Gudauta of the Russian military base has
transferred 8 installations of «Grad (Hailstones)» such as BM-21 and 12
howitzers of system D-30 to Abkhazian side. As he said, in fighting of last days
in Kodori Gorge from the side of Abkhazians and Russian special group were lost
approximately 60 persons. According to his statement, 80 percents of the
population evades from service in army of Abkhazia. He considers, that in
Abkhazia, there is an irreversible process in the form of guerrilla movement,
which he names liberation struggle. As he said, there is nothing especial that
the Georgian guerrillas and Northern -Caucasians operate in common as recently
between them «there was a rapprochement of interests».
Abkhazian
side, in turn, accuses Tbilisi of deliberate provoking war and informs, that
hundreds of volunteers from southern areas of Russia are arriving to Abkhazia
and are ready to be at war on the side of Abkhazians against Georgia.
|
