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http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=2730310&startrow=21&date=2002-09-19&do_alert=0 GEORGIAN LEADERS INSTIGATE CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA -. According to the Russian expert, what accounts for this is "the total dependence of Georgia's leadership on the US policies", which is aimed at "seizing the oil ellipse (Middle East, Iraq, the Caspian), i.e., the oil stocks in these regions". MOSCOW, September 19, 2002./from Vladimir Pakhomov, Cristina Rodriguez, RIA Novosti correspondents/-- Georgia's leadership is permanently provoking "unsound relations" with Russia, said Leonid Ivashov, Vice-President of the Academy for Geopolitical Problems, at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday. According to the Russian expert, what accounts for this is "the total dependence of Georgia's leadership on the US policies", which is aimed at "seizing the oil ellipse (Middle East, Iraq, the Caspian), i.e., the oil stocks in these regions". The expert believes that the US is trying to overcome the systemic economic crisis by reducing oil price to $10-12 per barrel. "The US Caucasian strategy contradicts Russia's interests," Ivashov stressed. According to Ivashov, "Georgia has been turned into a camp for gunmen's rest, treatment and training". At the same time, he said, "the Georgian leadership, which fears to be unmasked, has recently taken some measures to limit the movement of gunmen in Georgia". He also spoke against "power involvement in Georgia's internal affairs", as this would entail a split in the process of ex-USSR states' integration. The expert also suggested that "politicians should transfer the solution of the Pankisi problem to the two countries' military and other power structures". ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/georgia/hypermail/news/0043.shtml Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 20, 2002 FORMER GENERAL ACCUSES GEORGIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY OF ILLICIT ARMS SALES The former commander of the Georgian Army's ground forces, General Gudjar Kurashvili, who served a prison term on charges of preparing a coup in May 1999 against President Shevardnadze on 17 September accused the Georgian Defense Ministry of selling Strela missiles to Chechen guerrillas, Caucasus Press reported. He dismissed parliament Defense and Security Committee Chairman Irakli Batiashvili's claim that the Georgian military never possessed such weapons. Kurashvili said that when he was commander, the ground forces had 44 Strela missiles, all of which later disappeared. LF ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/georgia/hypermail/news/0046.shtml Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 20, 2002 ABKHAZIA AGAIN ACCUSES GEORGIAN OFFICIAL OF LIAISING WITH CHECHEN MILITANTS AS DOES GEORGIAN GUERRILLA LEADER In a statement released on 18 September, the Abkhaz Defense Ministry press service accused Kodori Gorge Governor Emzar Kvitsiani of meeting in the Pankisi Gorge with "international terrorists" to negotiate the transfer of Chechen fighters from Pankisi to the Kodori Gorge, Caucasus Press reported. Abkhaz Defense Ministry General Staff Commander Vladimir Arshba leveled similar accusations against Kvitsiani on 14 September. The Defense Ministry statement expressed concern at a possible new attack on Kodori similar to that launched by Chechen militants last fall. Also on 18 September, Abkhaz Prime Minister Anri Djergenia again called for the withdrawal of the 900-1,000 Georgian troops he claims are still in the Kodori Gorge, Interfax reported. But in an interview with "Vremya novostei" on 19 September, Ioseliani said that the UN observers who patrol the gorge have not seen any Chechens there. He claimed the Russians and Abkhaz are engaged in a troop buildup in the vicinity of Kodori. The Georgian newspaper "Akhali taoba" on 19 September quoted Zurab Samushia, the leader of the "White Legion" guerrilla movement, as saying that there are currently some 1,000 Chechen fighters in various locations in Georgia that are inaccessible to the Georgian Army, and that both the Georgian and Russian intelligence services are aware of their presence. Samushia claimed that senior Georgian officials accepted huge bribes for permitting the Chechen fighters to enter Georgia. LF __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
