Zourabichvili Speaks of Factors Helping Progress in Talks over Military Bases

In an interview with Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, published on April 27, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili spoke of the possible reasons behind the progress that was made in talks over withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.
 
“Much has changed, including the fact that Georgia has now very strong Foreign Minister… But seriously speaking, we, on the level of Foreign Ministries, have analyzed the reasons which triggered lots of misunderstandings in relationship between our countries in detail. I can say that not only in Georgia, but in Russia as well, the vision of our common problems has changed. Those things, which previously could have been regarded as defeats and even humiliations are now perceived as a common process, which is in our common interests,” Salome Zourabichvili said.

When she was asked to specify the factors which helped the sides to make a breakthrough in talks over the military bases, Salome Zourabichvili replied:

“We can talks on number of factors. It can be the harsh statement of the Georgian Parliament adopted in March, which envisaged the proclaiment of the Russian bases illegal in the event that the talks failed. It is not ruled out that the American factor has also played its role, specifically, the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [to Russia]: Moscow probably took into consideration her [Condoleezza Rice] vision of Russo-Georgian relations. Or, maybe Russia wanted to demonstrate to the international community, on the eve of the great celebrations to commemorate the Day of Victory [in World War II on May 9], that Moscow is capable of normalizing relations with a “problematic” Georgia,” the Georgian Foreign Minister said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)