Georgian-Russian joint commission to work over Chechens' repatriation

(Tbilisi, September 2, 2003, Civil Georgia) - The representatives of the Russian delegation and the Interior Ministry of Georgia today set up a special commission that will work over the repatriation of Chechen refugees to their homes.

Russian Minister for Chechnya Stanislav Iliasov told reporters in Tbilisi that the commission will also include the representatives of the Russian-backed Chechen administration, who will arrive in the Pankisi Gorge in late September to convince Chechen refugees to return.

The Russian delegation arrived in Tbilisi on August 31 to discuss the issue of repatriation of Chechen refugees living in the Pankisi Gorge.

Up to 3,700 Chechen refugees, who fled the second Chechen war in 1999, live in the Pankisi Gorge at the moment.