Russian, US top security officials discuss situation in Georgia
( 2002-03-02 10:15 ) (8 )

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov discussed US-Georgian anti-terror military cooperation by telephone with US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday evening.

The two sides discussed "aspects of the situation in Georgia," said the Russian Defense Ministry press service.

Rumsfeld and Rice told Ivanov that the group of American servicemen sent to Georgia will service "Iroquois" helicopters supplied earlier to Tbilisi.

US assistance in training Georgian anti-terrorist forces will be rendered in several phases, said the US officials.

At present, the above-mentioned team of American specialists has been forwarded to Georgia to deal with technical issues and examine the situation in the region. In the second phase, Georgian servicemen will receive specific training for conducting an anti- terrorist operation.

The two sides agreed to regularly exchange information on this issue, in particular, during an official visit of the Russian defense minister to the US, which begins on March 11.