GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES DEAL ON RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE WITHDRAWAL

AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2006

The Georgian parliament on Thursday ratified an agreement on the
withdrawal of Russian military bases from the Caucasus Mountain nation.

With opposition legislators boycotting parliament over unrelated
issues, lawmakers voted 132-0 to back the deal that obliges Russia
to complete the pullout of the bases, leftovers from the Soviet era,
by the end of 2008.

Russia and Georgia agreed on the pullout last May, and military
officials from the two former Soviet republics signed a deal laying
out details late last month.

Under pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia is seeking
to shed Russian influence after centuries of domination by Moscow.

About 3,000 troops are stationed at bases in the southern city of
Akhalkalaki and the Black Sea port of Batumi; two others were closed
over the past decade. Under the deal, the Russian military is to
complete its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki by the end of 2007 and from
Batumi by the end of 2008.

Opposition lawmakers said they favor the withdrawal but oppose
plans to establish a joint anti-terrorist center in Batumi after the
withdrawal. Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze said the deal only
envisages talks about the creation of such a center.

Opposition leaders also questioned why the agreement allows Russia
the right to send military equipment and personnel through Georgia
to Armenia _ the site of another Russian base _ for five years,
when the bases must be withdrawn within about three years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress