The Georgian delegation was led by deputy foreign minister Merab Antadze; the Russian delegation by ambassador-at-large of the Foreign Ministry Igor Savolski, the news agency Novosti-Georgia reports.
"During the talks on military questions the sides have advanced cardinally different positions. We want the Russian bases to be soon withdrawn from the territory of Georgia and the Russian side holds its own position", Georgian ambassador to the Russian Federation Valeri Chechelashvili told journalists.
Asked by reporters, ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Lev Mironov confirmed that in discussion today was the creation of anti-terrorist centers in place of the Russian military bases in Georgia. He noted that "not only Batumi was meant" but would not specify location of the other centers, only adding that the question of Akhalkalaki is not, for the time being, considered in this context.
Two Russian bases - in Batumi (Adzharia) and Akhalkalaki (southern Georgia) - now remain in Georgia. According to the agreements reached, they are to be withdrawn. The Group of Russian Troops in the Transcaucasian region is headquartered in Tbilisi.
Within the framework of the OSCE Istanbul decisions, Russia has already pulled out two bases from Georgia - in Vaziani (30 kilometers away from Tbilisi) and Gudauta (Abkhazia).
