Saakashvili Speaks of ‘Historic’ Moscow Declaration on Bases

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news conference on May 30 that a political agreement reached between Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers on Monday in Moscow over withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia, is “a historic event” which will mark the end of “200 years of presence of Russian troops in Georgia.”

According to the joint declaration signed by Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the Russian side pledged to finish withdrawal process of its military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki in the course of 2008.

Mikheil Saakashvili underlined that this joint declaration is “a political agreement” which still needs “a legal formalization.”

At a news conference he spoke about the recent history of talks between Russia and Georgia over withdrawal of bases and stressed, that Russian side “initially demanded 17 years, then 15 years, then 13 and 11-10 years” for withdrawal. “Of course this timeframe was unacceptable for us,” Saakashvili said.

He said that two “painful” issues, one military bases and other Abkhazia, South Ossetia conflicts, have been marring ties between the two countries. “By reaching an agreement over bases, one of the painful issues has been removed,” the Georgian President said.

“Georgia wants close, friendly relations with Georgia. Georgia will never create problems to Russia,” he said.

He also said that the Georgian side is ready to launch social programs in Akhalkalaki, in order to ease the process of withdrawal of base from there for the local population.

“For many people this base is a source of income in Akhalkalaki… We have already launched rehabilitation of roads, schools, and launched social programs… We are also ready to recruit personnel of this base in the Georgian army,” Saakashvili said.

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