An unindentified Georgian soldier takes part in the training of the light infantry's regiment, Georgia, March 14, 2002.
Photo: Vasily Shaposhnikov
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Georgia Swaps Bases for Flats
Russian-Georgian foreign ministries’ consultations started in Moscow yesterday. The prime concern is pulling out Russian military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki. Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said the incidents similar to the one happened in administrative border between Georgia and Abkhazia can wreck negotiations.
Zourabichvili meant Georgian village Ganmukhuri, located in the area of Georgian-Abkhazia’s conflict. A big division of Russian peacemakers entered the village Tuesday. Soldiers surrounded a building held by the detachment of Georgian special forces, offered them to surrender, but were denied. The U.N. military intermediaries had to step in to save the situation. As a result, the tension was eased, but only after negotiations between commanding officers of Russian forces and the region’s governor Givi Ugulava.
Now the incident may affect negotiations, which are not directly related to the Georgian-Abkhazia’s conflict. In the consultations held between the foreign ministries of Russia and Georgia, Russia is represented by Ambassador At Large Igor Savolsky, while Merab Antadze, deputy foreign minister of Georgia, stands for his country. The consulations are dedicated to the terms and dates of pulling out Russian military bases.
The standing of Georgia is as follows: it is ready to concede to the 4-year withdrawal of Russian troops (till January 1, 2009), but provided the troops are maintained in the state of withdrawal during the whole period, i.e. no military exercises carried out, no new military machinery arrived and permanent reduction in military personnel. As the ultimate remedy, Georgia may present Russian officers with flats in the central Tbilisi, which they can sell at a profit before the departure.
Moreover, Georgia stands ready to find from $10 million to $15 million (apparently, for the account of international donors) to deliver military personnel and machinery to Russia. According to Zurabishvili, the amount of $300-$350 million claimed by Moscow is unreal. Still, it is not money that is the highlight in Moscow. Russia actually rebuffs the state of withdrawal. If Moscow agrees to the term of four years, the RF Defense Ministry still insists on the usual operating state during the whole period.
Georgian experts fear Moscow will be playing for time, and on expiration of the term, mention opposition of the local residents to prevent withdrawal, as it currently happens in the Dniester Region.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 24, 2005
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