U.S. Supports Withdrawal of Russian Bases from Georgia

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said that the issue of removing Russian military bases from Georgia topped the agenda during his talks with top U.S. officials in Washington.

?The United States reiterated its support for the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia. We do not demand Russia to withdraw these military bases today or tomorrow, this may be done in one or two years,? Giorgi Baramidze told reporters on September 27 after he arrived from the United States.

He called Russia?s appeal to the United States or other donor countries to finance the pullout absurd, given that ?Russia has enough funds to provide for the withdrawal of its military bases.?