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| Sergey Mironov and Nino Burjanadze met in Tbilisi on April 22. |
Sergey Mironov was speaking at a joint news conference with his Georgian counterpart Nino Burjanadze, after a meeting with a group of Georgian parliamentarians.
“Russia has offered to pull out all the servicemen and military hardware from the Akhalkalaki military base by January 1, 2008. And we also want to consider a proposal over the withdrawal of military hardware from the Batumi military bases by this date as well – January 1, 2008 and to completely close down the base [in Batumi] by January 1, 2009… If we take into consideration the fact that a year ago the Russian side was talking about 11 years for these bases’ withdrawal, then this [new proposal] is clear progress,” Sergey Mironov said.
“As far as I know, the Georgian side has not yet responded positively to this proposal. But I believe that a compromise, which will be favorable for both Georgia and Russia, will be found,” he added.
Sergey Mironov also said that “the most important thing is that Russia has a strong position that these bases should be pulled out. Now we are speaking about a timeframe and a civilized withdrawal of these bases.”
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze expressed hope that a breakthrough will be reached over the timeframe of the bases’ withdrawal during talks between Georgian and Russian Foreign Minister, which will be held in Moscow on April 25-26.
“I hope that a timeframe will be agreed on before May 15, because our future relations will largely depend on it,” Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at a news conference.
The Georgian Parliament adopted a resolution on March 10 which instructs the Georgian government to enforce a number of measures, including halting the issuing of visas to the Russian servicemen, in the event that the two sides fail to reach an agreement over a “reasonable” timeframe for the withdrawal of the Russian bases before May 15, 2005. January 1, 2006 is considered by this resolution as a “reasonable” date for closing down these bases.
“We have very categorical position regarding this issue. The timeframe proposed by the Russian side is absolutely unacceptable for us and if Russia refuses to agree on shorter term [then four years] we will have to enforce the Parliament’s resolution,” MP Giga Bokeria, who attended talks with Sergey Mironov, told reporters on April 22.
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze also said at a press conference on April 22 that the Georgian Parliament is ready to pass a resolution banning the deployment of foreign troops on Georgian soil, “but only after the Russian military bases pull out from Georgia.”
“Deployment or non-deployment of foreign military bases on the Georgian territory is Georgia’s internal affair. But we understand Russia’s concerns about its southern borders. That is why we have even proposed the idea that the Georgian Parliament is ready to pass a law on non-deployment of foreign military bases on the Georgian territory, but the withdrawal of Russian military bases form Georgia should be a precondition [for the adoption of this law]. After the Russian military bases pull out from Georgia, we will be ready to launch discussion of a law on non-deployment of foreign troops,” Burjanadze said.
Tbilisi refuses to include a provision banning Tbilisi from stationing a third country’s military bases in Georgia in a Russo-Georgian comprehensive framework agreement.
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili’s forthcoming visit to Moscow, scheduled for April 25-26, seems to be a last attempt to make a breakthrough over the military bases before May 15. The outcome of the Georgian Foreign Minister’s talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov will largely determine whether Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will visit Moscow on May 9, to commemorate World War II.
“The [Georgian] President will analyze the results of these negotiations. Then he will decide whether the results are worth him going to Moscow on the 9th of May” Zourabichvili said on April 20 while visiting Ukraine.
