Russia Strengthens Border With Georgia

Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov has assessed the situation on the Russo-Georgian border as difficult and worrying. Speaking at a press conference in Rostov /a regional centre in southern Russia/, Ivanov indicated that some parts of Georgia were under no control at all and were virtually occupied by foreign mercenaries. Militants pose a real threat to security, said the minister. Ivanov reminded the audience that a decision had already been taken to increase control over the border on Russia's side. This was done with the goal of barring fighters from intruding into Russia, Sergei Ivanov noted.