Russian, Georgian Defense Ministers Agree on Cooperation

Georgian and Russian Defense Ministers hailed today’s talks in Moscow, saying “they were rather useful and constructive.”
 
“We have a chance to improve our bilateral ties. However, the trust can not be restored in an hour. It will be formed as a result of specific actions,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said after the talks with visiting Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili.
 
“We have discussed the issues of two Russian bases deployed in Batumi [Adjarian capital] and Akhalkalaki [eastern Georgian city]. The Russian Defense Ministry reiterates its principled position, that the Russian military bases do not participate in internal political events of Georgia,” Sergai Ivanov told reporters after the talks.
 
Commenting on the pullout of these bases from Georgia, the Russian Defense Minister stressed that the bases will be withdrawn as soon as the necessary facilities for redeployment are created in Russia.
 
The sides agreed to sign a full-scale agreement on military cooperation in the near future. Sergei Ivanov said, a plan of bilateral cooperation between the Defense Ministries of Russia and Georgia will be signed as well.