Russian MFA: Positions of Sides Over Military Bases Do not Coincide

In an information note issued on March 25 the Russian Foreign Ministry claims that the positions of Moscow and Tbilisi regarding the timeframe of a pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia ?do not coincide with each other.?

However, both the Russian and Georgian sides refrained from commenting on the details further or the results of the three-day talks which were held in Moscow on March 23-25.

Igor Savolsky, the Russian Foreign Ministry?s special envoy, led the Russian side at the talks, while the Georgian side was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze.  

?During the talks the Russian side set forth its proposals over the Russian military bases stationed in Georgia and the setting up a joint anti-terrorist center,? the Russian Foreign Ministry states.

?The sides have fixed their positions regarding the timeframe for the functioning and pullout of the Russian military bases which, so far, do not coincide with each other. The Russian side stressed during the talks that the military bases should be withdrawn in a well-ordered manner,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s information note reads.

During the Moscow talks the sides also discussed the problems related to the Gudauta military base, which is located in breakaway Abkhazia. According to the Russian side the base is currently used by the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the Abkhaz conflict zone.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides also held consultations over the possible setting up of a joint anti-terrorist center. ?The Russian delegation suggested that an agreement over its establishment be completed as soon as possible so that the center could start its operations before the withdrawal of the Russian bases is completed,? the Foreign Ministry information note reads.

The sides agreed to resume talks over the military bases within the next two or three weeks so that they may reach a particular agreement.

An agreement to resume Russo-Georgian negotiations over the problems related to the Russian military bases in Georgia was reached during the visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Tbilisi in February, 2005.

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