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DEPUTIES TO DISCUSS WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN BASES FROM GEORGIA
RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 30 2005
MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Malyshkin) - Several committees
of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, are
planning to hold a meeting in September to discuss the withdrawal
of Russian military bases from Georgia, a Russian parliamentarian
said Tuesday.
Gennady Gudkov, member of the State Duma committee on security, said,
"The deputies want to know why Russia started the withdrawal in such
a hurry before any official agreements had been ratified."
"Our leaders...first agreed on the withdrawal of bases from Batumi
and Akhalkalaki and only later started figuring out how to do it,"
he said. "As a result, people are suffering."
According to Gudkov, "the withdrawal has started, but nothing has been
done to accommodate the troops returning to Russia." At present, about
500 personnel discharged from the military before the withdrawal need
housing. After the withdrawal, that number will increase to at least
2,000. It is still not clear who is going to provide this housing
and how, he added.
Gudkov also said Georgia was more interested in "making noise" around
the issue rather than in the withdrawal itself.
"Georgia will delay the withdrawal process for as long as possible
because that meets its interests," the deputy said. "First, Georgia
has proved its ability to dictate its terms to Russia. Secondly,
Georgia can always use the withdrawal as leverage... Thirdly, it is
simply another way to link the bases issue with internal problems
in Georgia, when Georgian authorities blame the poor socio-economic
situation in the country on the presence of Russian bases."
He said Georgian authorities had promised to provide local residents
with new jobs after the withdrawal of the Russian base from Alkhalaki,
although the promises were still "hanging in the air."
The parliamentarian also mentioned difficulties with the transportation
of heavy military equipment during the withdrawal from Alkhalaki. "Only
five out of 16 bridges on the way from Alkhalaki to Batumi can support
tanks, the rest have to be fortified," he said. "Nevertheless,
Georgia has not even started the repairs."
According to Gudkov, officials from the foreign ministry, defense
ministry, and finance ministry will be invited to attend the
joint meeting of the State Duma security, defense, and CIS affairs
committees. During the meeting, the deputies "will attempt to find
out how officials are planning to finance the withdrawal and decide
the fate of the returning troops."
According to a joint statement released by the Russian and Georgian
foreign ministries on May 30, the withdrawal of Russian military bases
from Georgia must be completed in 2008. The majority of the weaponry
from the bases will be returned to Russia, and the remaining armaments
will be transferred to a Russian military base in Gyumri in Armenia.
RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 30 2005
MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Malyshkin) - Several committees
of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, are
planning to hold a meeting in September to discuss the withdrawal
of Russian military bases from Georgia, a Russian parliamentarian
said Tuesday.
Gennady Gudkov, member of the State Duma committee on security, said,
"The deputies want to know why Russia started the withdrawal in such
a hurry before any official agreements had been ratified."
"Our leaders...first agreed on the withdrawal of bases from Batumi
and Akhalkalaki and only later started figuring out how to do it,"
he said. "As a result, people are suffering."
According to Gudkov, "the withdrawal has started, but nothing has been
done to accommodate the troops returning to Russia." At present, about
500 personnel discharged from the military before the withdrawal need
housing. After the withdrawal, that number will increase to at least
2,000. It is still not clear who is going to provide this housing
and how, he added.
Gudkov also said Georgia was more interested in "making noise" around
the issue rather than in the withdrawal itself.
"Georgia will delay the withdrawal process for as long as possible
because that meets its interests," the deputy said. "First, Georgia
has proved its ability to dictate its terms to Russia. Secondly,
Georgia can always use the withdrawal as leverage... Thirdly, it is
simply another way to link the bases issue with internal problems
in Georgia, when Georgian authorities blame the poor socio-economic
situation in the country on the presence of Russian bases."
He said Georgian authorities had promised to provide local residents
with new jobs after the withdrawal of the Russian base from Alkhalaki,
although the promises were still "hanging in the air."
The parliamentarian also mentioned difficulties with the transportation
of heavy military equipment during the withdrawal from Alkhalaki. "Only
five out of 16 bridges on the way from Alkhalaki to Batumi can support
tanks, the rest have to be fortified," he said. "Nevertheless,
Georgia has not even started the repairs."
According to Gudkov, officials from the foreign ministry, defense
ministry, and finance ministry will be invited to attend the
joint meeting of the State Duma security, defense, and CIS affairs
committees. During the meeting, the deputies "will attempt to find
out how officials are planning to finance the withdrawal and decide
the fate of the returning troops."
According to a joint statement released by the Russian and Georgian
foreign ministries on May 30, the withdrawal of Russian military bases
from Georgia must be completed in 2008. The majority of the weaponry
from the bases will be returned to Russia, and the remaining armaments
will be transferred to a Russian military base in Gyumri in Armenia.