RIA Novosti, Russia
March 17 2005

IN MOSCOW MCC FIXES PROCEDURE FOR DEMILITARIZATION OF GEORGIA-SOUTH
OSSETIA CONFLICT ZONE

MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti) – The co-chairmen of the Mixed Control
Commission for settling the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict have
agreed upon a procedure for demilitarizing the conflict zone,
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Settling Georgi Khaindrava said
at the RIA Novosti news conference on Thursday.

The first stage intends the elimination of trenches and
fortifications, he said. “When there are no trenches, there will be
no place to sit in and look at each other through the cross-hairs.
This will provide an opportunity for start of the second stage,
economic cooperation”, Mr. Khaindrava believes.

Later on, the sides will withdraw their armed formations illegally
found in the conflict zone and concentrate them in one place, he
said. Both the places of concentration should be accessible for
monitoring by peacekeepers and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, Mr. Khaindrava said.

To him, Russia and Georgia can in May go for the conclusion of a big
treaty of friendship and cooperation, he said.

“In spring, in May we may go for concluding a comprehensive treaty of
friendship and cooperation. It will help in resolving the issues of
problem zones”, he noted.

Mr. Khaindrava said that Georgia hopes for resuming active dialog
with Russia. To quote: “We hope that a breakthrough in our relations
will be made”.

Mr. Khaindrava believes that a withdrawal of the Russian military
base from Akhalkalaki (on the Georgian-Armenian border) will not
affect the economic situation of the town’s residents. That was his
comment on the March 13 meeting in Akhalkalaki. Its participants
(mostly Armenians) insisted on being in no hurry with the withdrawal
of the Russian bases from Georgia (another Russian base is in Batumi
in Adzharia).

“Life of about 300 residents of Akhalkalaki is connected with
Russia’s 62nd military base. People were alarmed by the prospect of
losing their jobs. From the economic point of view, there can be no
talk of a serious importance of the base withdrawal”, Mr. Khaindrava
said.

He recalled that problems of the region were recently discussed in
Tbilisi. Just before the discussion, Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili promised jobs to local employees of the Akhalkalaki and
Batumi bases at installations of the Georgian Defense Ministry. They
will all have jobs and “no cardinal changes in their lifestyle will
happen”, Mr. Khaindrava promised.

The meeting of the MCC co-chairmen with the involvement of the
Russian and Georgian sides, as well as representatives of South and
North Ossetias, took place in Moscow on March 16 to 17.