Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
May 10 2005

Bush: Russia Committed To Vacate Georgian Bases

Tbilisi, 10 May 2005 (RFE/RL) — U.S. President George W. Bush,
speaking today in the Georgian capital, has said he has received
assurances from Russia that it will close its two remaining bases in
Georgia.

Bush said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him earlier this week
that Moscow is committed to reduce its military presence in the
Caucasus in conformity with an agreement reached nearly six years ago
at a summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe.

“He reminded me that there is an agreement in place, the 1999
[Istanbul] agreement. He said that the Russians want to work with the
[Georgian] government to fulfill their obligations in terms of that
agreement,” Bush said. “I think that’s a commitment, that’s an
important commitment for the people of Georgia to hear, and it shows
there is grounds to work to get this issue resolved.”

Russia maintains two former Soviet military bases in Georgia, one in
the autonomous republic of Adjara, and one in the predominantly
ethnic Armenian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti.

Georgia last month said Russia had agreed to close its bases by 1
January 2008. But Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov later said
Moscow would need at least four years to complete the withdrawal.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has cited the base dispute to
justify his decision to boycott the Moscow ceremonies that marked the
60th anniversary of the end of World War II.