Parliament to Discuss Declaring Russian Bases Illegal

On March 9, the Parliament will discuss a draft declaration calling for outlawing of the Russian military bases; the decision to discuss this issue was made on March 7 during a meeting of the parliamentary bureau that plans the schedule for the upcoming week in the legislature.

One of the sponsors of the declaration, MP Giga Bokeria, told the News-Georgia agency that the document was prepared at the Committee for Defense and Security, “based on the current situation in Georgia, wherein [we] see no intention of the Russian authorities to agree on negotiating a sensible timeframe for the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Georgia.”

According to Bokeria, a declaration would give the executive government of Georgia until May 1, 2005 to prepare measures which would become effective if there is no progress in Russo-Georgian negotiations over timeframes of withdrawal of the military bases. These measures include suspension of the water and electricity supplies to the bases, suspension of visas to the servicemen, as well as assessment of the total debt for the functioning of the bases.

If these measures bring no result, “further measures would be enacted to ensure that the Russian bases leave Georgia by January 1, 2006” Bokeria said.

The MP also added that if there is the political will, this timeframe is more than sufficient for withdrawing some 3000 military personnel and their families. “The Red Army took much less time to occupy Georgia [in 1921]” Bokeria added.

This recent statement is in line with the position taken by the Foreign Ministry, made after failed talks over the Russian military bases took place in February 2005. The Deputy Foreign Minister argued then that if progress in negotiations is not made by May, Georgia would consider outlawing the bases.