Duma official comments on Putin's statement regarding Georgia

Deputy chairman of the State Duma committee for international affairsKonstantin Kosachyov said that yesterday's statement of Russian PresidentVladimir Putin regarding the situation on the Russian-Georgian border, was"absolutely correct and timely". He voiced his opinion in an interview withRBC. Kosachyov believes that the statement of the Russian leader did notmean "an immediate beginning of an operation by the Russian army at theRussian-Georgian border". In his opinion, the Georgian President "was givena last chance to prove his ability to control the situation in the republicand to confirm that Georgia was among the states that fought internationalterrorism, by specific activities".Kosachyov pointed out that the Russian President had recently sent a letterto Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, which suggested the Georgiangovernment take efficient measures regarding international terrorists whohad committed crimes in Chechnya and were hiding in Georgia. However, thedeputy stressed that Putin's message "was not properly responded to"..