Georgian Defense Minister Denies Chechen Militants are in Pankisi
Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze dismissed on December 10 Russian media reports over presence of the Chechen militants in Pankisi gorge as ?provocative.?
The Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, in its article ‘Pankisi under Target Again’ published on December 10, quotes an unnamed source in the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that Russia ?is ready to strike terrorist bases located in foreign countries.? The paper assumes that this measure will involve, first and foremost, the Pankisi gorge, in the north-eastern mountainous region of Georgia–near the Russian border.
?This is a provocative statement. There are no Chechen militants? bases in Pankisi. By making such statements Russia puts itself in a very foolish position,? Giorgi Baramidze told reporters on December 10.
Also on December 10 the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov did not rule out pre-emptive strikes on the terrorist bases throughout the world. ?We consider it possible to use armed forces to confront aggression,? Ivanov added.
