RIA Novosti, Russia
April 22 2004
GEORGIA HOPES FOR “CIVILIZED WITHDRAWAL” OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES
MOSCOW, April 22 (RIA Novosti) – The Georgian government hopes that a
compromise will eventually be reached in its negotiations with Russia
on the withdrawal of military bases, Ambassador of Georgia Konstantin
Kemularia told a Moscow press conference Thursday.
There are two Russian military bases in Georgia now: in Akhalkalaki
(near the border with Turkey and Armenia) and outside Batumi, the
capital of the Adzharian autonomy. Moscow argues that pulling these
two bases out in a “civilized manner” will take at least ten years.
According to Kemularia, the Georgian government is now considering
ways to create normal living and service conditions for the outgoing
Russian troops.
Officials of Russia, Georgia, and Abkhazia (a breakaway region in
Georgia) will hold three-party consultations on the prospective
withdrawal of the military bases as they gather in Moscow on April
26, the Ambassador announced. Deputy Foreign Minister Mirab Antadze
will be attending for Georgia; and Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba,
for Abkhazia.
“The revival of the relations between our countries will lead to a
higher degree of trust,” emphasized Kemularia.
Speaking of Adzharia, the ambassador said that Tbilisi could see no
legal or political grounds for applying the Treaty of Kars vis-a-vis
the autonomy. “The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that the
problem of Adzharia is a domestic affair of Georgia’s and that Russia
is not a guarantor of Adzharia’s security,” Kemularia said. In his
words, it would be absurd to implement the Kars Treaty’s articles
that envisage the possibility of Turkey carrying out duty-free trade
operations in the Adzharian capital of Batumi.
“Likewise, Article 7 of the Treaty stipulates that if Adzharia’s
autonomy is abolished, Turkey may send in troops. This does not seem
realistic today, either,” the ambassador said.
It will be remembered that under the Kars Treaty, signed in 1921,
Russia and Turkey shall act as guarantors of Adzharia’s sovereignty
within Georgia.