Georgian government prepared to buy-up weapons from Adjarian population

The government of Georgia is prepared to buy-up weapons from the population of Adjaria, according to Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. As reported by a Rosbalt correspondent, Zhvania made the announcement prior to his flight to Batumi for talks with the Adjarian leader, Aslan Abashidze.

According to Zhvania, for every automatic weapon handed in, Georgian authorities would be prepared to pay up to 500 Lari (USD 250). Preliminary estimates put the cost of disarming the Adjari population at 1 million Lari.

'This money will not be transferred from the budget. There are many private parties, businessmen, who would be prepared to pay that amount in exchange for peace on the Georgian Black Sea coast,' said Zhvania. Special reception points would be opened throughout Adjaria.

Attending the talks together with Zhvania will be the secretary of the Georgian Defense Council, Vano Merabishvili. Planned discussions include the disarmament of illegal militias, as well as the issue of delineating authority between the center and the autonomous region.