RUSSIA IS READY TO CLOSE RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN AKHALQALAK AND
BATUMI IN 3-4 YEARS

Azg/arm
12 March 05

According to BBC, the representatives of RF Defense Ministry,
stated that they are ready to withdraw the Russian military base 62
in Akhalqalak and 12 in Batumi from the territory of Georgia. Moscow
has been stating that at least 11 years are needed for that. “3-4
years are the minimal deadline,” Anatoli Mazurkevich, RF Defence
Ministry’s high-ranking official, told Interfax.

Referring to a high ranked official of RF Defence Ministry, Novosti
agency informed that the two Russian military bases will be withdrawn
from Georgia, when “new highland gunnery detachments are formed in the
Caucasus. “We can’t be present in Russia forever. We will leave for
Caucasus, where highland gunnery detachments are being formed. Their
formation will be though in 3-4 years,” the official said.