TBILISI. Aug 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgian authorities are working hard to scale down tensions in the Kodori gorge, President Eduard Shevardnadze said on national radio on Monday.
Shevardnadze said reports that Abkhaz armed units entered the Georgian-controlled part of the Kodori Gorge are true. He said Abkhaz servicemen are deployed 30km from Georgian settlements.
Georgian border guard service chief Valery Chkheidze visited the gorge. Heidi Tagliavini, the UN secretary general's special envoy, was informed of the situation, the president said.
Shevardnadze said "State Minister Avtandil Jobernadze is expected within the next few hours to hold in a telephone conversation with Abkhaz Prime Minister Anri Dzhergenia, which is expected to clear up the situation."
The president said "Marukh pass is being controlled by a reinforced border guard unit. Other extra measures will be taken to prevent any uncertainty, and to do everything possible to secure the withdrawal of Abkhaz formations from areas under our control."
For their part, Abkhazia's authorities have denied Tbilisi's reports alleging that Abkhaz armed units entered the Georgian- controlled upper part of the Kodori gorge.
"Not a single Abkhaz army serviceman is in the upper part of the Kodori gorge. These allegations are aimed at aggravating the situation in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone," Abkhaz Vice President Valery Arshba told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.