Parliament Approves Resolution Against Russian Bases
With a 158-0 vote, the Georgian Parliament approved a resolution instructing the executive government to take measures against the Russian military bases stationed in Georgia if an agreement over a timeframe for their withdrawal is not reached with Russia before May 15, 2005.
These measures include halting of issuing entry visas to Russian military servicemen and assessment of the total debt for the functioning of the bases. The Parliament also instructs the Ministry of Environment ?to assess the damage to the ecology caused by the functioning of the Russian military bases.?
Influential MP Giga Bokeria from the ruling National Movement party, who is a co-author of the resolution, described approval of this document as ?historic,? as this is a first time that the Georgian side has demonstrated that it is ?categorical? about the pullout of the Russian bases.
