This Stubbornness Is Disappearing

Kommersant, Russia
May 20 2005

// The Russian General Headquarters is getting used to the idea of
withdrawing from Georgia

People’s friendship

Speaking before journalists yesterday, Yury Baluevsky, chief of the
General Headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces, said that Russia
and Georgia would soon reach an agreement at the expert level on the
dates and procedure for removing Russian military bases from Georgian
territory, as well as the parties’ obligations connected with this
process. General Baluevsky claimed there had been instances of
blockades of Russian bases. Tbilisi categorically denied this claim.

“In the very near future, there will be agreements at the expert
level on the dates and procedure for removal and the obligations of
the parties, including safety of removal,” Yury Baluevsky said. In
his opinion, there would be positive changes in the negotiation
process. “Russia and Georgia must document their obligations connected
with the removal procedure; otherwise, the Russian Ministry of Finance
will not be able to plan the financial resources needed to remove the
bases. Until recently, there was a stubborn insistence on signing
some sort of memorandum or protocol of intentions on this issue,
but no agreement,” General Baluevsky said. “Today, this stubbornness
is disappearing; the actual question now is how to prepare all the
necessary documents as quickly as possible in order to organize the
removal of Russian bases.”

Baluevsky stressed that Russia’s main condition was that Russian
military bases – about 50 facilities – must go to areas with
infrastructure and not to open country. He said he did not rule out the
possibility of transferring part of the Russian military contingent
from Georgia to Armenia. General Baluevsky recalled that Russia
had previously required 10-11 years to remove the bases, but was now
expressing a willingness to do it within four years. He explained why:
“A certain amount of time has passed, and we have to consider both
the political situation and the situation on the Russian bases.” The
general noted in particular that there had been instances of blockades
of Russian military bases in Georgia.

Georgian leaders immediately denied this claim. Soon after General
Baluevsky’s speech, Georgia’s Interior Ministry made its own statement,
according to which a student demonstration had taken place a few days
before near the headquarters of the Russian base in Batumi. “Their aim
was not to blockade the base; it was only a peaceful demonstration in
full conformity with Georgian and international law.” The ministry said
that the demonstration had ended, no others were going on, and there
were no obstacles to supplying the Russian bases with food. They’re
saying in Tbilisi that the Georgian leadership has refused to take
drastic measures before the end of the negotiations on the dates for
the withdrawal of Russian troops, especially since there appear to
be signs of progress in the negotiations.

There are problems, however. General Baluevsky let slip that Tbilisi is
trying to make financial claims for so-called ecological violations,
as well as claims relating to nonpayment of debts by Russian bases
and the return of property to Georgia. Tbilisi is advancing another
version – there are concerns there that Russia will make financial
claims and will try once again to raise the question of paying it
$300 million in compensation for withdrawing its troops. Sources in
the Georgian government say if that’s the case, Georgia will advance
the counterargument that, according to the calculations of Georgia’s
Ministry of Finance, the Russian side owes the same $300 million to the
state budget for the use of the land and other services. And, according
to Finance Minister Valery Chechelashvili, if you calculate ecological
damage, the amount could reach $1 billion. The Georgian government
is dropping hints that this counterargument will be brought in only
if the Russian delegation starts talking about monetary compensation
at the next round of negotiations on Monday. In that case, Georgia
will suggest that Russia agree to a “zero option”.

Nik Lagidze, a senior staff member in the prime minister’s office,
categorically denied allegations that Tbsili was demanding that part
of the material resources belonging to the Russian army and subject
to removal from Georgia be left behind (movable property, including
weapons). In fact, he said, the matter concerned returning immovable
property used previously by the Russian army to state ownership.

At the same time, the Georgian government has repeatedly said it may
consider the possibility of a gift transfer to Russian officers of
the apartments they lived in during their service in Georgia. Most
of these apartments are located in the center of Tbilisi (where
apartment prices are about $300-400 per sq. m) and the officers could
sell them at a profit, which would provide them with funds to solve
their housing problems in Russia.

by Vladimir Novikov, Tbilisi; Pavel Belov