Georgia Pushes For Russian Military Bases Pullout

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said, on June 9, that Russia?s two military bases in Georgia ?have no strategic importance? for Moscow any more and they should be pulled out.

?We will still push the issue of pulling out of Russian military bases from Georgia. Russia should understand that their bases have no strategic importance any more. And the issue should not be a subject of dispute between Tbilisi and Moscow,? Salome Zourabichvili said at a news briefing on June 9.

On May 31 the Georgian Foreign Ministry issued an appeal urging Russia to resume talks over the military issues and hold the next round of talks in Tbilisi on June 10-11.

Tbilisi has already proposed Moscow the setting up of a joint, anti-terrorism center in Tbilisi, in exchange for the pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the issue is under consideration.

The Georgian and Russian sides are at odds over two Russian military bases ? one in the southern Georgian town of Akhalkalaki and the other in the Adjarian Autonomous Republic?s capital, Batumi. The 1999 OSCE Istanbul Treaty clearly prescribed that the Russian and Georgia sides reach an agreement on this issue before 2001. However, since then, Russian and Georgian officials have failed to meet deadlines set for the closure of the two bases.

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili says that Tbilisi insists on Russia pulling out within three years, while Moscow demands ?eight years, or even more.?