Russia Reiterates Four Years are Needed for Bases’ Closure

The Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Gen. Yuri Baluevsky, said on May 11 that Russia will need at least four years to close down its military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, RIA Novosti and Interfax news agencies reported.

?If the timeframe is shorter [than 4 years] we will face the bitter experience similar to the one [we experienced] during the withdrawal of troops from Central and Eastern Europe into a blank field,? Baluevsky said.

He also said that Russia will need USD 300 million for the construction of new infrastructure for those servicemen and military hardware which will be pulled out from Georgia.

Georgia wants Russia to close down its military bases by the end of 2007.

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