Burjanadze Speaks Tough on Russian Bases
Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze told reporters on May 12 that the lawmakers will insist on the enforcement of the Parliament?s resolution which envisages imposing certain restrictions on Russian military bases stationed in Georgia, if no progress is made in talks over pullout of Russian bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki before May 15.
?The Parliament will demand the relevant structures of the executive authorities to fulfill the resolution,? Nino Burjanadze said.
The Georgian Parliament approved a resolution on March 10 instructing the executive government to take measures against the Russian military bases in Georgia if an agreement over a ?reasonable? 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; assessment of the total debt for the functioning of the bases and preparing an unspecified ?special regime of movement? for the Russian servicemen, military hardware and cargo owned by the Russian military bases stationed in Georgia. The Parliament also instructs the Ministry of Environment ?to assess the ecological damage caused by the functioning of the Russian military bases.?
Moscow refuses to close down its bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki by January 1, 2008, as is demanded by the Georgian side.
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