TBILISI. Feb 8 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia will not accept Russian military assistance in settlement of the Pankisi gorge problem, Dzhemal Gakhokidze, deputy secretary of the Georgian National Security Council, told reporters on Friday.
According to him, "such format of cooperation of the two countries in the Pankisi problem solution has never been discussed, including during the recent visit of Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo to Tbilisi."
"The parties are discussing other forms and methods of the Pankisi problem solution but they have nothing to do with carrying out a joint military operation there," Gakhokidze said in response to a question from Interfax-Military News Agency.
Chief-of-Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Anatoly Kvashnin said in Makhachkala on Thursday that Russia was ready to provide military assistance to Georgia in combating rebel gangs in the Pankisi gorge in case Georgia asked for it.