RUSSIA CAN START WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM GEORGIA THIS YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia can start the withdrawal of its military bases from Georgia this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at the press conference held upon completion of negotiations with Georgian FM Salome Zurabishvili. "We have achieved a considerable progress and adjusted positions on the terms", S. Lavrov said. He also noted that the parties agreed on stepwise withdrawal, which can be started this year already. According to the Russian FM, it refers to the "heavy defense technology" and the "move of the military bases for the joint usage as anti-terror centers". The negotiations on the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Georgia have been under way since 2001. Earlier the Georgian party proposed a 3-year term while Russia insists on 8 years. The Command of Russian troops in Georgia includes the 12-th military base in Batumi and the 62-nd military base in Akhalkalaki. Besides, through the Georgian territory the supply of the 102-nd base dislocated in the Armenian town of Gyumri is being provided.