TSKHINVALI. Oct 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The atmosphere is tense at a session of the mixed control commission for the Georgian-Ossetian settlement, peacekeeping force commander Major General Vasily Prizemlin told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
"First and foremost, the tension is explained by extreme concern from South Ossetia about Tbilisi's statements on a possible anti-criminal operation in the conflict zone, similar to the one underway in the Pankisi Gorge," Prizemlin said.
South Ossetian co-chairman of the commission and Minister at Large Boris Chochiyev said he feels extremely negative about the possible operation. "Not only a decision to hold the operation, but also its consideration at the official level can trigger an outbreak of armed conflict," he said.
Georgian co-chairman of the commission and personal representative of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze for the settlement of conflicts Irakly Machavariani said, "Reports about a possible operation concern only Georgian settlements in the Tskhinvali district. They are incorrectly interpreted in Tskhinvali."
Meanwhile, Georgian ambassador to Russia Zurab Abashidze told a news conference in Moscow that Georgia has made no decision to start a special operation in the area of Tskhinvali.
The Georgian National Defense Council discussed at its Wednesday meeting the outcome of the operation carried out by Georgian law enforcement agencies in the Pankisi Gorge, Abashidze said. "We regard these results as very rewarding with 17 especially dangerous criminals and 41 others on the wanted list detained and large amounts of weaponry, explosives, uniforms and tools to print forged documents seized. We believe that this experience can be used in tackling the crime situation in other parts of Georgia," he said.
"The situation around Tskhinvali calls for taking certain steps, but different techniques can be used, " Abashidze said.
That area is part of South Ossetia and is not controlled by the Georgian authorities.