16:43, 11 May 2004

Georgian president: military exercises in Poti were conducted 'with bead drawn on Adjaria'

President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili has admitted that large-scale military exercises in Poti were conducted "with a bead drawn on Adjaria". Mr Saakashvili announced it in Batumi on May 10. The exercises were conducted not with the purpose of launching an invasion of Adjaria but in order to show Aslan Abashidze the power of federal troops, he said. This demonstration of power was in particular what induced Abashidze to resign, the president holds.

The president of Georgia also admitted that there were still problems with illegal armed units in Adjaria. They were given a week to disarm themselves. After it, appropriate sanctions can be introduced. Nevertheless, according to unofficial data, some supporters of Aslan Abashidze do not intend to cooperate with the center even after the resignation of their leader.

Editors note: See also the article "Georgian interior ministry: 'special police operation' is possible in Adjaria".

Source: Rosbalt News Agency