MOSCOW. June 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Chairman of the State Duma Security Committee Vladimir Vasilyev has warned the Georgian authorities against attempts to replace administrations in South Ossetia and Abkhazia "in the Ajarian style."
"We are very much concerned that the mechanism that was used to everyone's satisfaction in Ajaria, notably with Russia's active participation, is already being unilaterally applied to South Ossetia. This won't work. And this is quite obvious," Vasilyev said at a joint meeting between NATO Parliamentary Assembly committees and a Duma delegation in Moscow on Thursday.
He said they should also warn Georgia against using "the Ajarian scenario" to change the administration in Abkhazia.
Relations between Georgia and Russia are on very good grounds, Vasilyev said. "We like a lot, we support a lot, and we are ready for further cooperation. But God forbid they should apply the same mechanism automatically for South Ossetia or Abkhazia," he said.
There is a peacekeeping force and European representatives in South Ossetia, and they have been ensuring peace in the region for 12 years, Vasilyev said.
He called on members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to offer joint assistance to the Georgian administration to help ease tension in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.