Russia, Georgia Resume Talks on Military Bases

Georgian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze is visiting Moscow on June 23-24 to hold ninth round of talks with the Russian side over withdrawal of its two military bases from Georgia, as envisaged by the 1999 Istanbul treaty. 

The Georgian Foreign Ministry welcomed on June 22 the renewal of the negotiation process between Georgia and Russia, which has been stalled for more than two years. As the statement issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on June 22 reads, the forthcoming meeting aims at outlining the ways of solving the problem of the Russian military bases in Georgia.
 
?The Georgian side expresses hope that the work of the new heads of the state delegations will proceed on a constructive level, which on its part will facilitate the enactment of the adapted Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Agreement, being a cornerstone of the European Security System,? the statement reads.

Russia appointed on June 10 Ambassador Igor Savolsky as a head of Russia?s delegation to negotiate with Georgia over the military issues.

He said in an interview with Russian news agency Interfax that the sides should agree over ?acceptable duration of presence [of the Russian military bases in Georgia] and functioning of these bases in dignity.?
 
?We do not intend to drag-out duration of their presence in Georgia; however, while defining the terms of withdrawal, the necessity for creating the infrastructure for these bases on the territory of Russia should be taken into account. But until they remain in Georgia, it is necessary to define their [military bases?] legal status. Absence of the relevant bilateral agreement is abnormal,? Ambassador Igor Savolsky said.
 
On June 21 Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the withdrawal of Russia?s two military bases from Georgia and their redeployment in Russia will cost USD 300 million.