May 24, 2005 - 09:03 AMT
BURJANADZE: "GEORGIA IN NO DANGER FROM ARMENIA"
"Georgia will most likely accept the conditions of Russia over the time of withdrawal of military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki," stated Georgian Parliament Chairperson Nino Burjanadze. "The proposals of the Russian party over the regime and time of withdrawal of the bases, as well as creation of a joint anti-terror center can be acceptable in principle. After all it is not that much important whether the bases will withdraw January 1, 2008 or in May the same year," the Georgian Speaker said. When commenting on Georgia's posture over the further fate of those bases Nino Burjanadze noted that Russia decides itself where to locate its military equipment withdrawn from Georgia. "Georgia is in no danger from Armenia," Burjanadze said when commenting on the opportunity of placing part of the equipment and personnel in Gyumri city in the north of Armenia, where 102nd Russian military base is located at present. It should be noted that talks over the time of withdrawal of the Russian military bases continued in Tbilisi today. Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Merab Antadze represents the Georgian party at the talks, while the Russian one is presented by Igor Savolsky, an Ambassador for Special Commissions. However she emphasized that Georgia has a negative attitude to statements of a range of Russian and Abkhaz politicians over the possible placement of those bases in Abkhazia. "Abkhazia was, is and will be a territory of Georgia, however, no one can locate or introduce military equipment there without the agreement of the country leadership. The Russian leaders will never resort to such a provocative move, otherwise there will be an open confrontation," Burjanadze said, reported Regnum news agency.