No hasty pullout of Russian bases from Georgia-defense minister
By Alexander Konovalov, Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 20, 2004 Thursday
YEREVAN, May 20 — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has ruled
out hurried withdrawal of Russian troops from the military bases
in Georgia.
“There can be no haste about the removal of Russian military bases
from Georgia. This is out of the question. There will be no repetition
of what happened in the early 90’s when Russian troops were removed
from Germany,” Ivanov said after talks with his Armenian counterpart
Serge Sarkisian. “To remove bases from Georgia Russia will need time
and great financial resources to create infrastructures at the troops’
new location in Russia.”
Of late, the process of talks on the removal of Russian military
from Georgia slowed down somewhat for objective reasons following
the change of governments in Russia and Georgia.
“As soon as new delegates are appointed, the negotiations on the
removal of bases will be continued. The talks concern pullout dates
and the status of bases, which are part of the Russian military group
in the Caucasus.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
