TBILISI. Dec 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The situation in the Pankisi gorge will not become as complicated as it used to be, Georgian First Deputy State Security Minister Irakly Alasania told reporters on Monday.
"The Georgian party will not let the situation aggravate to the point where it was yet half a year ago," Alasania said.
According to him, the situation in the Pankisi gorge "is stable and the possibility of Chechen guerillas' return is out of the question due to appropriate control over the area."
"A plan of permanent search operations has been elaborated," Alasania noted.
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze did not rule out a new aggravation in the Pankisi gorge in spring.
"The escalation of combat operations in Chechnya after the snow melts will obviously bring about movement of guerillas and arms, which will demand more attention to the gorge from the Georgian law-enforcement agencies," the president said several days ago.
Before the beginning of the anti-criminal operation in the gorge on August 25, the Georgian State Security Ministry admitted the presence of nearly 800 Chechen rebels and Arab mercenaries in the gorge. At present only several rebels may be located in the area, the ministry says.