Russia Condemns Georgia’s ‘Ultimatums’ over Military Bases

Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Col. Viacheslav Sedov said “language of ultimatums, blackmail and pressure is unacceptable” while considering the issue of withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia, Interfax news agency reported.

The Russian official commented regarding the Georgian Parliament’s intention to discuss a draft resolution on March 9 which envisages an announcement declaring the Russian military bases stationed in Georgia illegal.

“The bilateral commission, which regularly holds its sessions in both Tbilisi and Moscow, was designed to solve the issue of the bases’ withdrawal,” Col. Viacheslav Sedov said.

“We can not pull out our troops on a blank field, like it happened in Russian history – [when troops were pulled out from] Germany. Creation of infrastructure in Russia is needed for this withdrawal of troops,” he added.

According to the draft resolution created by members of the Georgian Parliament, the government will prepare measures which will enter into force if there is no progress in Russo-Georgian negotiations over a “reasonable” timeframe for the withdrawal of the military bases before May 1, 2005. These measures include halting the issuing of entry visas to Russian military servicemen; assessment of the total debt accrued during the functioning of the bases and preparing a “special regime of movement” for Russian servicemen, military hardware and cargo owned by the Russian military bases on the Georgian territory.

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