Saakashvili Speaks of Bases, Relations with Russia

President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news conference on May 25 that Georgia will ?peacefully? achieve withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia, adding that Tbilisi has no plans to deploy troops of any other foreign country on its soil.

?I hope an agreement will be reached over withdrawal of Russian troops. We had very principled position here [during the recent talks between the Russian and Georgian sides held in Tbilisi on May 23-24]. We do not want to alienate Russia? We understand the importance of good relations with Russia very well. But, at the same time, everyone should understand that Georgia is not a kind of country with whom it will be possible to talks with banging a hand on a table. And [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin understands this very well,? Mikheil Saakashvili said, adding that ?we should put an end to this hysteria over the military bases.?

In an attempt to allay Russia?s fears, Saakashvili stated that deployment of troops of third country in Georgia is not in Tbilisi?s interests. ?We do not want Georgia to become a stronghold of foreign troops,? he added.

?We will do our best in order not to make any of our neighbor feel endangered. We will do our best in order not to create any problems to Russia. It is not in our interests,? the Georgian President stated.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry reported on May 25 that talks in Tbilisi between the Georgian and Russian sides over withdrawal of military bases, ?resulted in a maximum rapprochement of the positions of the sides. Agreement has yet to be reached on the timeline for the withdrawal of Russian military bases, which will provide the subject of a further political dialogue.?

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