USA Believes Georgia Must Liquidate Terrorist in Pankisi Gorge

The Georgian government must complete the liquidation of Chechen separatists and international terrorists remaining in the Pankisi Gorge, US ambassador to Georgia, Richard Miles, said to journalists. 90 percent of Chechen separatists abandoned Georgia in 2002, the ambassador pointed out. However, part of international terrorist are still hiding in the Pankisi Gorge," the ambassador said.

Richard Miles stressed that the Georgian government should resolve the Pankisi Gorge problem independently.

When speaking about threats to Georgia's security and territorial integrity, the head of the US diplomatic mission highlighted the Abkhazian and South-Ossetian problems. The situation jeopardizes democratic and economic reforms in the country, and there is also a danger of resumed conflicts, he said. "The USA will continue making efforts to settle the conflicts in the framework of the UN and OSCE," Richard Miles stated. He appreciated Russia's positive role in settlement process.