(Tbilisi February 22, 2003. Civil Georgia) - Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council (NSC) Tedo Japaridze said at the news briefing on February 21 that the NSC would discuss plan of anti-crime operation in Pankisi next week.

The issue was discussed at the meeting of the leadership of the Georgian law enforcement agencies on February 21.

Tedo Japaridze said that the activation of the new phase of anti-crime operation in the gorge is caused with anticipated incursion of the Chechen militants into Georgia from Chechnya.

“Once snow begins to melt, it is quite possible that the Chechen militants will try to infiltrate into Pankisi gorge again,” Tedo Japaridze said.

Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council also said that the additional units of the Internal Troops would be dispatched to the gorge. A new phase of anti-crime operation will be held mainly by the Interior Ministry, State Security and Defense Ministries will be also involved.

Tedo Japaridze said that at the moment there are only Chechen refugees and the local population in Pankisi. “There are no militant groups in the gorge,” he added.

Georgian authorities launched anti-crime operation in Pankisi last August to crack down on criminals, Chechen fighters and Islamic militants harboring in this 30-kilometer long gorge.

According to the Georgian State Security Ministry up to 700 Chechen and 100 Arab militants found shelter in Pankisi during the 1999-2002, including some notorious warlords linked to Al Qaeda.

Last November Georgian President and Interior Minister officially announced that all the militant groups left Pankisi and the gorge was no more no-go area.