(Tbilisi, September 7, 2002, Civil Georgia) - Today Georgian Interior Ministry denied reports of the Russian media sources that the Georgian and Russian Interior Ministers negotiated on joint measures to arrest international terrorists in Pankisi gorge.

The Russian news agencies quoted Boris Grizlov, Russian Interior Minister saying in Baku, where the CIS Interior Ministerial summit was held, that he discussed the issue of carrying out joint measures in Pankisi with his Georgian counterpart Koba Narchemashvili.

"The Georgian and Russian Interior Ministers agreed only on exchange of information. There was no talk concerning the joint operation or any other measures in Pankisi," Paata Gomelauri, Spokesman of the Georgian Interior Ministry told the Civil Georgia on September 7.