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Russia, Georgia and U.S. Work to Bury Troops Feud
Saturday, March 2, 2002
(19:05)
Gazeta.RU & Reuters

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's acceptance of U.S. aid effectively closes the door on Russian operations in Pankisi.

Russia, the United States and ex-Soviet Georgia worked to bury their differences on Saturday after a feud over a decision to send U.S. training troops to Georgia exposed cracks in the anti-terror alliance.

The announcement this week that Washington would send up to 200 elite troops to train and equip Georgia's rag-tag army to rein in Islamic militants sparked a storm of outrage in Moscow.

But President Vladimir Putin abruptly withdrew Russia's objections on Friday, saying the hostile reaction had been prompted only because Moscow was late to be informed. On Saturday, chairman of the Russian Security Council Vladimir Rushailo flew to Georgia to attend the funeral of his Georgian Counterpart Nugzar Sajaia, a close adviser and friend of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, who committed suicide on Monday. Rushailo’s attendance at the funeral was a clear gesture of friendship from the Russian side.

Rushailo said he had been sent on Putin's behalf to convey the latter’s condolences over the death of Sadjaya, Shevardnadze's close friend of 30 years.

"We mourn and we share the grief which has befallen us," Rushailo said. "I give my sympathies to his family, and wish to say: we are with you."

In Moscow, U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow went on a media charm offensive, giving newspaper, radio and television interviews to assure Russians Washington had no secret agenda.
(More: Gazeta.RU News Source)
2002 © Gazeta.RU & Reuters, Ltd.

Dan