U.S. Wants Russia to Pull Out its Troops from Georgia

Lynn Pascoe, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, said that according to the OSCE Istanbul agreement in 1999 Russia pledged to disband its military bases in Georgia in few years, however, “our concern is that this has not been carried out.”

Pascoe said Washington wants Russia, as a member of the OSCE, to honor its commitments to withdraw military forces from areas “they are not wanted.”

Russia insists that at least 10 years are needed to pull out from the military bases in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic and Akhalkalaki in southern Georgia. While the Georgian side demands three years for the Russian troops’ withdrawal.

In an interview to Time Georgian President-elect Mikheil Saakashvili said that the Russia’s intentions to keep its military bases in Georgia for 10 years “serve more to bolster imperial self-confidence than Russian security.”

“We can find other things that serve Russian security better than these 2,000 troops. The Russians have interests like safeguarding their southern borders, making them terrorist-proof. We have the same interests,” Saakashvili said.  

“But Russian troops can’t be thrown out without any means of subsistence — anywhere to leave back home. Maybe the U.S. or Europe can help. Russia should not be humiliated,” he added.

Moscow warned Tbilisi on January 13 that any provocations against Russian bases and nationals in Georgia could have “far-reaching consequences.”