Fighting terrorism requires consolidation - Georgian PM
TBILISI. Jan 16 (Interfax) - Tbilisi is ready to cooperate with Russia on issues related to the security of the Olympics in Sochi, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said.
"We do not just intend [to cooperate], we are obliged to cooperate with everyone in this regard. Everyone should be consolidated in fighting against terrorism," Garibashvili said at a news conference on Thursday.
The United States and the European Union countries cooperate with Russia in this regard and "Georgia is also ready to contribute," the prime minister said.
Security measures have been greatly enhanced in Georgia due to this and it will last until the Sochi Olympics draw to a close, Garibashvili said.
When asked about the possible use of the Olympics by Russia for popularizing the topic of Abkhazia's independence and how justified the participation of Georgian teams in the Olympics is due to this, the prime minister said that it was not right "to raise a fuss in advance."
Georgia will definitely react if some steps unacceptable for Georgia will occur but in general "it is necessary to keep sports away from politics," Garibashvili said.
The Georgian government has decided that the Georgian team will compete in the Olympics, he said.
An official delegation will not go to Sochi - just sportsmen, sportswomen and an Olympic committee representative will be there, the prime minister said.
