Antiterrorist Operation in Pankiss Canyon, Georgia, Is Necessary

Yesterday, at the Duma press conference following the Fatherland Defender Day ceremony, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov said that he thinks an antiterrorist operation in the Pankiss Canyon is necessary. Mr. Ivanov further noted that the terrorists' presence in the Transcaucasia is a fact acknowledged by the rest of the world and Georgia herself. In the Minister's opinion, the possibility of Bin Laden hiding somewhere in Georgia should not be taken lightly. Military operation in the Canyon is a necessity which should be taken care of by the Georgia in the first place, Russia's participation being subject to Russian-Georgian bilateral consultations, which are already taking place. The Defence Minister expressed his concern that just waiting for the situation to get out of control and turn into mini-Afghanistan is not a good strategy