MOSCOW REJECTS PROPOSED BY TBILISI PLAN OF RUSSIAN BASES WITHDRAWAL FROM GEORGIA

MOSCOW, January 8, 2004. /RIA Novosti/ -- Moscow is not satisfied with Tbilisi's plan concerning the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia in 3 years. This was disclosed by First Deputy Head of Russian Armed Forces General Staff Yury Baluevsky in the course of his meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Tedo Dzhaparidze, RIA Novosti learned from the Russian General Staff.

"We can not withdraw Russian military servicemen into nowhere," RIA Novosti interlocutor said.

According to him, in the course of the talks Russian part once again confirmed its position concerning the withdrawal of the bases within the 10-year term. However, if Georgia decides to pay off part of the expenses connected with the withdrawal of the staff and military equipment as well as the housing provision for servicemen, than the term can be reduced. However, this opportunity is hardly possible, RIA Novosti interlocutor said.

Baluevsky and Dzhaparidze also discussed the issue concerning the prolongation of the mandate of peacekeeping contingent presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (two self-proclaimed republics on the territory of Georgia). "It is possible that the other CIS countries will participate in the peacekeeping mission," the source noted.

One of the issues, discussed in the course of the talks, was about the Chechen part of the Russo-Georgian border - the Pankisi Gorge. The Russian part, referring to the operative information, once again stated that some Chechen terrorists might be hiding on the Georgian territory, waiting for the winter to end.