12:01, 16 March 2004

Moscow mayor meets with Abashidze in Adjaria

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov came to Adjaria on March 16 and had a meeting with Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze.

The Tbilisi-based Rustavi-2 TV Company broadcasted a report from Batumi, which said that Luzhkov had come to Batumi together with Garry Luchanski, a well-known businessman.

According to initial reports, Luzhkov came to the city of Trabzon, Turkey, by plane and from there he went by car to the checkpoint of Sapri on the Georgian-Turkish border. He had a meeting with Abashidze there, in the administrative building of the checkpoint. After the meeting they went to Batumi, some 15 kilometers away from Sapri, where their next meeting is being held in the residence of the leader of the Autonomous Republic of Adjaria. Adjarian officials did not comment in any way on Luzhkov's visit.

Editors note: See also the article "Situation at Adjarian administrative border remains tense".

Source: ITAR-TASS News Agency