TBILISI. Oct 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Georgian State Security Ministry once again claimed that that agents of Russian and U.S. secret services are working in the Pankisi gorge.
"Interests of Russia, Georgia and the United States are at stake in the Pankisi gorge, and that is why all parties are represented there," Deputy State Security Minister Lasha Natsvlishivili told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
The Georgian ministry considers the interaction of secret services in the interests of combating terrorism to be profitable, Natsvlishivili said, commenting on a statement on the possible intensification of cooperation between secret services of the two countries made by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Chisinau when meeting with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze.
"Active contacts are established between the Georgian State Security Ministry and Federal Security Service and the Georgian party, calls for continuing the cooperation at the maximum level," Natsvlishivili stressed.
When meeting with Shevardnadze in Chisinau, Putin said that "Russia and Georgia are planning to solve the main problem, which is to establish effective cooperation in combating terrorism."
"We did not rule out the intensification of contacts between secret services of the two countries and involvement of specialists in the field in joint work. We agreed to appoint coordinators (on behalf of Russia and Georgia) of combating terrorism in the two countries," Natsvlishivili added.