(Tbilisi, March 2, Civil Georgia) - Georgian President Shevardnadze stated after the meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimer Putting on March 1 in Almaty that sides agreed "Russia will speed up measures aiming at Chechen refugee's return from Pankisi to their homes."

Russia will provide financial assistance to Georgia in order to hasten the repatriation process, President Shevardnadze stated.

Russian and Georgian sides agreed in mid-February on the joint plan of action on the issue.

According to the Georgian Refugees and Settlement Ministry more than 7,000 Chechen refugees live in Pankisi gorge at the moment.

Georgian side admits that persons fighting against the Russian Federal Forces in Chechnya are among the refugees.