May 12, 2004 - 17:59 AMT
SAAKASHVILI DOES NOT VIEW SKIRMISH BETWEEN GEORGIANS AND ARMENIANS IN TSALKA AS ETHNIC CONFLICT
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is not inclined to consider the skirmish between Georgians and Armenian in the Tsalka region as an ethnic conflict. "It's not an interethnic conflict. It was just a fight between Georgians and Armenians. We will not allow any violations of public order and will not yield to provocation", the Georgian President told journalists yesterday. He noted that "after the Ajarian developments Georgia's enemies retreated". "Our neighbors admire the peaceful settlement of the situation in Ajaria. I heard it from the Armenian and Ukrainian Presidents during the telephone conversations with them", Saaklashvili said. In his words, "some of Georgia's enemies want to involve her in a new conflict". "We will not tolerate any blackmail and are ready to give a proper response to everyone", Saakashvili stated. To remind, Armenians and Georgians started a fight after the football match with the participation of the local youth in the area center of Tsalka (Eastern Georgia) on May 10. As result two people were injured. A unit of the Georgian MHA troops was deployed in the region.