TBILISI. Aug 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia will deal with the Pankisi problem on its own, Defense Minister David Tevzadze told Interfax on Friday.
"Georgia will be resolving problems in the Pankisi Gorge without assistance from Russia, Belarus or other countries," Tevzadze said, commenting on Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov's remarks that the problem must be resolved with the help of Russian defense structures.
Tevzadze did not confirm assertions that Chechen militants crossed the Russia-Georgia border in the Itum-Kale section.
Tevzadze noted he was unable to register all movements on the border.
Bilateral relations are unlikely to aggravate into conflict, although Russia will probably continue its attempts to blackmail Georgia and put pressure on it, he said.
Georgia will soon announce its course for closer cooperation with NATO structures, he said.