Georgian defence minister welcomes Russian base agreement
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
31 Mar 06
[Presenter] The defence minister [Irakli Okruashvili] is making his
first comments on the signing of the agreement [today in Sochi] on
the time scale and procedures for the withdrawal of Russian bases
and other military assets from Georgian territory.
[Okruashvili, live broadcast begins mid sentence] – agreement between
Russia and Georgia on the withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia.
This document was signed by representatives of Georgia’s Defence
Ministry and the Russian General Staff. This process which Russia
has been procrastinating over can now be considered more or less
complete. This is a process which will bring to an end the main stage
of Russia’s 200-year military presence in Georgia. By main stage I
mean that although under the agreement the majority of heavy equipment
from the Akhalkalaki military base will be withdrawn in 2006 and the
base will completely close in 2007 and most of the equipment from
the Batumi base will be removed in 2007 and the base will close
in 2008, there still remains the so-called Gudauta military base
[in Abkhazia]. We are working very actively to ensure that we do not
give the other side an opportunity to kind sand in our face and that
the base really is closed.
We welcome Russia’s constructive position which, after very intensive
work over the past two weeks, led to this document being signed.
Half-jokingly I would say that over the next three years during which
the Russian bases will be in withdrawal mode they will drink about
the same amount of wine as which Georgian companies should be able
to export to the Russian market [reference to a recent Russian ban
on imports of Georgian wine]. Thank you. Are there any questions?
[Question indistinct]
[Okruashvili] On our side you could say the only compromise was the
time scale of three years, as the withdrawal of these bases does not
need three years, but we made the decision and agreed to it.
[Question indistinct]
[Okruashvili] In Mtskheta they have living quarters for their
military officers and other insignificant assets. In addition,
you know that the Russian Group of Forces in Transcaucasia has its
headquarters in Tbilisi and they will retain that for three years to
manage this process and organize it. There will also be joint use
of the communications stations in Kojori which belonged to Russia
but now has effectively been transferred to us. We will also allow
them to use the Gonio training ground [in Ajaria] to facilitate the
withdrawal process but not for firing practice.
[Question indistinct]
[Okruashvili] Russia has military bases in Armenia and naturally they
need to be supplied. For certain reasons they cannot be supplied
through Turkey or Azerbaijan and naturally the only way to supply
them is through Georgia. This was also a compromise on our part to
a certain extent when we agreed to this kind of transit, but we will
not have a situation when some kind of freight going through Georgia
could pose a threat to the region. Thank you.