RIA Novosti, Russia
April 28, 2005
GEORGIA TO MAKE IT UP WITH RUSSIA AS SOON AS ARMY BASES ARE CLEARED:
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
TBILISI, April 28 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia’s relations with Russia
will spectacularly improve after the latter withdraws its military
bases, reassured Nino Burjanadze, Georgian parliament Speaker, as she
and Arthur Bagdasaryan, her Armenian counterpart, were addressing a
joint news conference in Tbilisi.
“Georgia and Russia have vast hitherto unused resources for cultural,
economic, research and political partnership,” she pointed out.
“To host [overseas] military bases in our land is the last thing we
Georgians want, as our ill-wishers may occasionally use those bases
for destructive moves,” warned Ms. Burjanadze.
It takes consideration for each other’s interests to have normal
contacts with one’s neighbors and friends, she stressed.
January 1, 2008, is deadline for Russia to withdraw its bases from
Georgia, emphasized the parliament Speaker. Many parliamentarians and
members of the Georgian public have objections to the date, she
acknowledged.
“We are certainly anxious to have the bases out as soon as
possible-but we are fully aware of Russia needing a long time to do
so,” remarked Ms. Burjanadze.