Pankisi, David Gareji issues discussed during 1st meeting of Georgia’s National Security Council

Secretary of the National Security Council and Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated that the recent developments in Georgia’s Muslim-populated Pankisi Gorge and the temporarily closure of David Gareji monastery by Azerbaijani border guards several days ago were discussed during the first meeting of the eight-member National Security Council.

We received tasks from the Prime Minister,” Gakharia said and stated that he will speak about Pankisi Gorge related issues [a protest regarding the construction of a hydropower plant and others] tomorrow in parliament.

Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia has been appointed as the Secretary of the National Security Council by the prime minister. Photo: Prime Minister's press office. 

Speaking about the sixth century David Gareji monastery complex, located at the conditional border with Azerbaijan [as the border has not been agreed since the collapse of the Soviet Union], Gakharia said that it is a “very sensitive issue,” and there are forces which are trying to “stir an ethnic confrontation.”

Of course the border should be demarcated in the shortest terms possible and I am sure that we will achieve such an agreement with our strategic partner and a friendly nation [Azerbaijani] which will be in the interests of the Georgian church and will protect our cultural heritage,” Gakharia said.

Gakharia said that the first meeting was mostly of a technical nature and two members of the council  were absent.

• The National Security Council is an eight-member advisory body, responsible for national security policy planning and coordination.
• It is chaired by the prime minister. Its other members are: interior, defence, foreign and finance ministers, heads of state security and intelligence services and chief of the armed forces.