Tbilisi Offers Moscow Joint Anti-Terrorism Center

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili, who is paying an official visit to the United States, offered to set up a joint anti-terrorism center with Russia, in exchange for Russia pulling out its two military bases in Georgia.

In an interview with the Russian news agency, Itar-Tass, Salome Zourabichvili said that this issue was discussed during her meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington D.C. on June 1.

?On the one hand, we agreed with the Russian side to continue negotiations over the military issues and on the other hand, we tried to resort to new approaches, particularly the proposed creation of a joint anti-terrorism center in exchange for the pulling out of Russian military bases [in Georgia],? Salome Zourabichvili told Itar-Tass.

She said that Georgia still insists on the withdrawal of these Russian bases, located in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, within three years. ?However,” the Foreign Minister added, “Russia wants eight years or even more.? 

?I think an innovative, even revolutionary approach is needed in order to solve this problem in the shortest period of time,? Salome Zourabichvili said.

She added that the proposal over the setting up of a joint anti-terrorism center would be precisely this kind of ?innovative? approach.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell agreed after the talks with the Georgian Foreign Minister, that the Russian military bases in Georgia ?no longer serve a real military purpose.?

?We believe that the bases should be removed,? Colin Powell said and expressed hopes ?that in the months ahead, with continued goodwill on the part of all parties, we’ll find a way to move forward.?