EN
18 May 2004 - 18:47 AMT

SITUATION IN TSALKA REGION STABILIZED, GEORGIAN MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SAID

The situation in the Tsalka region of Georgia has become relatively stabile, stated today Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Georgy Baramidze, who arrived in the Tsalka region to clear up the situation at the scene, Georgian sources reported. It should be reminded that May 9 in the regional center of Tsalka (Eastern Georgia) upon the completion of a football match with the participation of the youth of local villages a scuffle occurred which developed into a serious clash between Adzharians and Armenians. To secure law and order May 11 an additional element of internal forces was brought to the region. Having met with journalists and Tsalka authorities today, Baramidze stated “at present there is no need to hold special measures to sustain order in the region.” At that he noted that the state should pay more attention to the region not only to prevent exacerbation of the criminogenic environment, but also to solve social and economic problems. Specifically, in the Minister’s opinion, Tsalka-Tbilisi highway should be laid.