Georgia, Russia Discuss Framework Agreement, Military Bases
Representatives from the Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries will meet in Tbilisi on February 10 to discuss a comprehensive framework agreement, which is designed to outline all aspects of bilateral relations, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.
Talks over the agreement have been stalled for several months. The Russian side claims that Georgia refrains from including a legally binding refusal to station military bases of third countries on its soil.
The Georgian leadership vows that no military bases of third country will be stationed in Georgia. But as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili explained, ?from the legal point of view, it will be difficult to include this provision in the [framework] agreement. It is difficult to find a proper formulation, [it is difficult] to include this provision and at the same time not to restrict our sovereignty.?
Meanwhile, separate talks, also to be held in Tbilisi, between Georgian and Russian officials are planned for February 11 regarding the removal of two Russian military bases, which are currently stationed in the south-western Georgian town of Akhalkalaki and in Batumi, in the Adjara Autonomous Republic.
“The issue of the two Russian military bases remaining in Georgia is to be discussed together with the setting up of an antiterrorist center or centers, which might be set up through using the Russian military bases? infrastructure,” Igor Savolsky, who chairs the Russian delegation at talks, told Interfax news agency on February 9.
Last year, Georgia offered to create a joint anti-terrorist center in exchange for the disbandment of Russia?s two military bases in Georgia.
