Russian Defense Minister to Discuss Situation in Pankisi with US Officials

(Tbilisi, March 12, Civil Georgia) – “I intend to discuss situation in Pankisi gorge and the US plan to send to Georgia its military instructors with the US authorities,” Russian media sources report on March 12, quoting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Ivanov who started official visit to the United States says that US actions in Georgia in order to defeat terrorists in Pankisi should be coordinated with Russia because in case of military operation in Pankisi, Russia will be the only direction in which the terrorists will have to go.

It is anticipated that US military instructors will arrive in Georgia this week. They will train four battalions of Georgian Defense Ministry.