The Georgian armed forces, if necessary, will be ready to take part in operations to restore the constitutional order in Ajaria, Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said at a press briefing in Tbilisi on Saturday. While commenting on Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili\'s recent statement about the armed forces\' readiness to curb all manifestations of separatism in Ajaria, he said that \"the armed forces have participated in anti-criminal operations jointly with the police on many occasions.\" \"In Ajaria we are witnessing criminal manifestations and violations of the constitution,\" said Bezhuashvili. He said that the Ajarian authorities are supplying citizens with weapons and forming armed groups, \"which must not go unnoticed.\" He noted, however, that \"internal problems should be settled exclusively by political means.\" Asked whether the Russian military base may support the Ajarian authorities, Bezhuashvili said that in Moscow he had received firm guarantees from the Russian military authorities that Russia will not interfere in Georgia\'s internal affairs. (Interfax)