Vladimir Putin believes Pankisi Gorge problem cannot be solved without Russia

Russia's president Vladimir Putin believes the Pankisi gorge problem (presence of Chechen and international terrorists in this part of Georgia) cannot be solved without the Russian special troops and Russian army's intensive participation, said the President at a press conference for Russian and foreign correspondents in the Kremlin on Monday.

Considerable forces of Chechen separatists headed by Gelayev as well as foreign terrorist rebels connected with Al Qaeda are hiding in the Pankisi gorge.

"Neither American nor even Georgian special troops can solve this problem without cooperation with Russia, Putin said. "As soon as Georgian people and government realise it and come to such a decision, the problem will be settled immediately," he stated.

Putin also said that Russia could not do it without Georgia either.

"Russia is rich and powerful enough for this but Georgia is an independent country. It would be inefficient to begin any aggressive measures and might destroy our cooperation basis for the future," the President stressed.