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http://www.turkishdailynews.com/FrTDN/latest/for2.htm#f24 1)Turkish Daily News April 18, 2002 Georgia ratchets up war of words with Abkhazia Georgia ratcheted up its war of words with the breakaway republic of Abkhazia, accusing Abkhazian separatists of preparing for a military invasion of a disputed gorge. Georgian Security Council Member Tamaz Nadareyishvili said on Tuesday that Georgia had intelligence information that Abkhazia was preparing for an invasion of the Kodori Gorge, which separates Abkhazia from the rest of Georgian territory, between April 20 and April 25. Abkhazia has accused Georgia of keeping troops in the gorge, in violation of a United Nations-brokered protocol that called for them to withdraw by April 10. Georgian Defense Minister David Tevzadze denied that, saying Georgia had only 200 border guards and some reservists stationed there, who are not part of the armed forces. The Georgian Armed Forces postponed a major military training exercise because of the situation in the Kodori Gorge, a military spokesman told Russia's Interfax-Military news agency on Wednesday. The growing tensions with Abkhazia also dominated a Georgian Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Cabinet ministers agreed to create a special commission to address the problems of Georgians living in the upper half of the Kodori Gorge. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze also warned that his country was facing a growing crime wave and he ordered law enforcement officials to take "special measures" to combat criminal activity. Shevardnadze said cases of theft, armed robbery, and car hijacking were rising at an alarming rate. He criticized police and prosecutors for not doing enough to curb drug-trafficking, and advised them to coordinate their efforts with colleagues in neighboring countries. Tbilisi - The Associated Press http://www.europeaninternet.com/russia/frames/frames.php3?webnewsid=1838825 2)Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Date: 16 Apr 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abkhazia calls on Russian peacekeepers to return to Kodori Gorge Abkhaz officials issued a call on 15 April for the return of Russian peacekeepers to the Kodori Gorge, the "Georgian Times" reported. The sudden deployment of Russian troops to the Kodori Gorge late last week led to a crisis that was resolved only after telephone negotiations between Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and Russian President Vladimir Putin (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 15 April 2002). The Abkhaz also claim that Georgia has not withdrawn all of its troops from the gorge, despite the Georgian government's announcement on 11 April that the pullout was complete. The situation remains tense as Russian military officials still vow to conduct patrols of the gorge in the future. RG __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
