RIA Novosti, Russia
May 14 2005

RUSSIA THREATENS TO RETALIATE TO GEORGIA’S ULTIMATUM ON MILITARY BASES
16:49

MOSCOW, May 14 (RIA Novosti) – A senior Russian foreign ministry
official said Russia could take tough measures in response to
Georgia’s ultimatum on the Russian military bases’ withdrawal.

“Ultimatums are not the language to speak with Russia,” Russian Deputy
Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin said on the Mayak radio on
Saturday.

Loshchinin thereby responded to Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino
Burdzhanadze who said, Thursday, that on May 15 the Georgian
parliament would adopt strict measures with respect to the Russian
troops deployed on its territory if no progress was achieved in terms
of the Russian bases’ withdrawal. Georgia is thereby acting in line
with a March 10, 2005 resolution, according to Burdzhanadze.

“The Georgian parliament’s steps were inadequate. Ultimatums are
counterproductive. We are not going to cling to Georgia or retain our
[military] presence there,” said Loshchinin.

The March 10 resolution stipulates Russia’s bases in Batumi (Georgia’s
autonomy of Adzharia in the west) and in Akhalkalaki, on the border
with Armenia, should leave Georgia before January 1, 2006. The
Georgian government was tasked with taking a series of measures,
including suspending visas for the Russian military and imposing
restrictions on their movement on Georgian territory, to speed up the
process.

Initially Moscow and Tbilisi talked about an 11-year withdrawal
timeframe, recalled the diplomat.

“We have agreed to complete the process in four years’ time, but for
some reason Tbilisi became opposed to that. Russia’s parliament
responded harshly to the Georgian parliament’s statement, and Russia
can retaliate with rather tough measures,” said the deputy minister.

Loshchinin said the Georgian community in Russia sent hundreds of
millions of dollars to Georgia every year, thereby providing a
substantial support for the Georgian economy, which was only possible
on condition of friendly relations between the two countries.

Russian MPs said on Friday if Georgia took unilateral steps with
respect to the bases, Russia should summon the Russian ambassador from
Georgia for discussions, suspend issuing entry visas to Georgians, and
step up efforts to deport Georgian nationals living in Russia with
expired visas and without proper registration.

MPs also said Russia should consider raising prices of energy
resources and electricity exported Georgia to the international level
and cutting the exports.