GEORGIAN OFFICIAL SAYS MORE "PROVOCATIONS" WILL FOLLOW NATO MEMBERSHIP PROGRESS

24 Saati, Tbilisi,
3 Oct 06

[Question] Has the withdrawal of Russian bases been delayed? Is Russia
fulfilling the 2006 agreement?

Russia’s troop withdrawal suspension announcement "propaganda",
withdrawal continuing

[Mamuka Kudava, deputy defence minister] No delay can be seen in
this respect. In accordance with the "Agreement between Georgia
and the Russian Federation on the timeframes and rules for the
temporary functioning and withdrawal of the Group of Russian Troops
in the Transcaucasus, the Russian military bases, and other military
facilities on Georgian territory" signed in Sochi on 31 March 2006, 737
units of equipment and more than 2,600 tonnes of materials have been
withdrawn from Georgian territory this year (358 units of equipment
and more than 1,600 tonnes of materials have been withdrawn to the
Russian Federation and the rest went to the Gyumri military base in
Armenia). A total of 25 special trains and 28 convoys of military
vehicles have left Georgia.

Forty-five tanks, 162 armoured vehicles and 52 artillery installations
as well as more than 500 units of military equipment have been
withdrawn from our country.

The Akhalkalaki military base has been completely emptied of military
equipment and weapons. The weapons and equipment restricted according
to the 19 November 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
have also been withdrawn along with other equipment.

We have always emphasized that Russia is conscientiously fulfilling
its obligations linked to the withdrawal. All those conditions
of the agreement that covered the year 2006 have been met (I hope
international inspections will check on the spot and confirm all
this in the future). As regards the statement about suspending the
withdrawal, it was propagandist in nature and far removed from reality.

[Question] According to the plan, when are the remaining equipment
and military personnel to be withdrawn from Georgia?

[Kudava] The withdrawal of the Russian heavy military equipment
remaining at the Batumi military base on Georgian territory should be
completed before 1 October 2007. Military personnel will be withdrawn
from the Akhalkalaki base during 2007. The withdrawal of the Russian
military base in Batumi and the headquarters of the Group of Russian
Troops in the Transcaucasus [in Tbilisi] will end in 2008.

[Question] Is there any real threat in connection with the bases?

[Kudava] In my opinion, rumours about the threats linked to the bases
are exaggerated. There are two explanations: First, two-thirds of
the withdrawn weapons were useless. The same is true of the remaining
equipment and the infrastructure there. A second important aspect is
that Georgia has all necessary means to avert any provocation. The
main thing is that the decision made on the withdrawal of the bases
is political and not only Russia and Georgia have signed it. The
agreement is valid in the framework of the overall European mechanism.

"Threats are growing" in South Ossetia, Abkhazia

[Question] Given Russian-Georgian relations and the political situation
in general, what are the most realistic and dangerous threats among
those faced by our country at this stage?

[Kudava] Even the untrained eye can see that the threats are growing in
comparison to previous years. Provocations in the conflict zones have
become extremely frequent. The OSCE monitoring group (never mind us)
is finding illegal armoured vehicles, antiaircraft installations,
or grenade launchers almost every week. We could also spend quite
a long time discussing shooting incidents, never mind shooting at
helicopters. The same thing is happening in Abkhazia. Someone is
being killed almost every week.

NATO membership, conflict settlement linked

The closer we draw to NATO, the more frequent such provocations will
become. Integration with NATO and the restoration of this country’s
territorial integrity are equally important for us. These two processes
facilitate one another. Our aspiration towards NATO will motivate
foreign partners to become more active and, vice versa, successes in
conflict resolution will facilitate the process of our integration into
NATO. Some Russian political analysts are saying that Georgia should
first resolve these conflicts and join NATO only after that. However,
that is really not correct. Starting with statements by the NATO
secretary-general, an unequivocal position on the recognition of
Georgia’s territorial integrity is outlined at every meeting. It is
being emphasized in NATO that no third factor or country can hinder
Georgia’s accession to the North Atlantic alliance. [Passage omitted]