Zourabichvili: Tbilisi, Moscow Launch New Stage of Relations

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said on May 31 that by signing the joint declaration over pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia, the two countries launched ?a new stage of relationship.?

Zourabichvili was speaking at a news conference, after she met with foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia to brief them regarding this agreement, in which Russia committed to pullout bases from Georgia in the course of 2008.
  
Zourabichvili said that since this document over the pullout of bases has already been signed by the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Georgia, ?there is no necessity for separate meeting of [Russian and Georgian] Presidents to sign this document.?
 
However, Salome Zourabichvili said that the two Presidents will now have to sign a comprehensive framework agreement between Russia and Georgia. She said it is up to the Presidents to decide when to sign this agreement. Disagreement over the withdrawal of bases was the major obstacle for finalizing the framework agreement.

Salome Zourabichvili also said, in an attempt to allay opposition?s fears that setting up of a joint Russo-Georgian anti-terrorist center will not be replacement to currently existing Russian military base in Batumi. Parliamentary opposition expressed concern on May 31 that setting up of joint anti-terrorist center, which is envisaged by Moscow declaration, can legalize Russian military presence in Batumi.

?The anti-terrorist center will not represent a new base, it will be a joint center, which will accept all the decisions jointly with the participation of the Georgian side,? Zourabichvili said. 
 
?The existence of this anti-terrorist centers is in Georgia?s interests as well,? the Minister added.
 
Zourabichvili also reiterated that Georgia will not deploy any foreign troops on its territory after the withdrawal of Russian bases.

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