U.S. Ambassador: ?Few International Terrorists? are in Pankisi Gorge

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles said on September 13, ?there are still a few international terrorists in the vicinity of the Pankisi Gorge,? in northern mountainous part of Georgia near the Russian border.

U.S. Ambassador was speaking on September 13, after signing an agreement with Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili, which will strengthen Georgia’s borders by providing Georgia with the PISCES computer network at border points of entry.

Richard Miles said, while answering question whether there are terrorists in Georgia?s Pankisi Gorge as claimed by the Russian officials: ?We’ve had some arguments with Georgian authorities about that, and I don’t want to get into that big argument here today, but the short answer is yes, there are still a few international terrorists in the vicinity of the Pankisi Gorge.?

?The situation under the previous [ex-President Shevardnadze?s] government had already been improved [in Pankisi Gorge], from let’s say the period of two-and-a-half to three years ago, the number of Chechen fighters had diminished by some 90% and the international terrorists by 60% or 70% or more. I’m not an expert on such matters, but in my own opinion this is not the sort of a situation which lends itself to military-type activity. It’s really a matter for the Internal Security services,? Richard Miles told reporters. 

?Prior to the restoration of Georgian government authority in the Pankisi Gorge, there was what we consider to be a significant handful of international terrorists. We believe that due to the actions of the Georgian authorities, that number has been significantly diminished by at least two-thirds or more of its previous size. But this is disputable, and in fact, some Georgian authorities have disputed it. But you asked my opinion,? he added.

Georgian officials made no comment regarding the U.S. Ambassador?s statement so far.

Georgian authorities admitted presence of Chechen fighters and foreign mercenaries in Pankisi gorge in 2002 and launched counterterrorist operation, described by the official Tbilisi as ?anti-crime operation.?

After the end of the operation, which lasted for around one year, Georgian authorities announced that there were no Chechen fighters, or terrorist suspects hiding in the gorge.

See the full transcript of Richard Miles statement