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Georgia ready to agree with Russia on bases' withdrawal - Burjanadze
Interfax
May 18 2005
TBILISI. May 18 (Interfax) - Georgia may agree with Russia on several
fundamental issues related to the withdrawal of Russian bases from
Akhalkalaki and Batumi, Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze
told Georgia's Imedi television on Wednesday.
"If we manage to reach a final agreement on these two or three issues,
all the other matters can be discussed during the next round of
negotiations," Burjanadze said.
The speaker, however, declined to name these matters. "A document we
received from Moscow, which reflects the stance of the Russian party
on the bases, is classified. That is why I cannot disclose any of
its provisions pending the outcome of the talks," the speaker said.
Georgia agrees that the bases' infrastructure should not be used to
create joint Russian-Georgian anti-terrorist centers, she said.
Georgia insists on the 2008 deadline for the bases' withdrawal,
she said.
Burjanadze, however, categorically ruled out the possibility of
transferring the bases to Gudauta in the breakaway province of
Abkhazia. "This option is not on the agenda," the speaker said. But
Russia has the right to transfer its Akhalkalaki base to Armenia,
she said.
Interfax
May 18 2005
TBILISI. May 18 (Interfax) - Georgia may agree with Russia on several
fundamental issues related to the withdrawal of Russian bases from
Akhalkalaki and Batumi, Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze
told Georgia's Imedi television on Wednesday.
"If we manage to reach a final agreement on these two or three issues,
all the other matters can be discussed during the next round of
negotiations," Burjanadze said.
The speaker, however, declined to name these matters. "A document we
received from Moscow, which reflects the stance of the Russian party
on the bases, is classified. That is why I cannot disclose any of
its provisions pending the outcome of the talks," the speaker said.
Georgia agrees that the bases' infrastructure should not be used to
create joint Russian-Georgian anti-terrorist centers, she said.
Georgia insists on the 2008 deadline for the bases' withdrawal,
she said.
Burjanadze, however, categorically ruled out the possibility of
transferring the bases to Gudauta in the breakaway province of
Abkhazia. "This option is not on the agenda," the speaker said. But
Russia has the right to transfer its Akhalkalaki base to Armenia,
she said.