(Tbilisi, December 12, 2002. Civil Georgia) – Georgian and Russian experts completed today the consultations concerning the Russian military bases hand-back to Georgia.
Russia still insists on 11-year term for the pull out from military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, while Georgian side claims that only 3 years are necessary for the withdrawal. Georgian Foreign Minister Irakli Menagharishvili says that the 11-year term is unrealistic.
According to the 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit agreement “during the year 2000 Georgia and Russia will complete negotiations regarding the duration and modalities of the functioning of the Russian military bases at Batumi and Akhalkalaki.” The two countries could not agree on the issue so far.