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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=7279251 Georgia to get back its military bases soon -Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said last month that Moscow could revise the date of the troop withdrawal as a result of the expected deployment in Georgia of 200 US troops to train security forces in anti-terrorism methods. AFP [ THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2002 6:58:15 PM ] MOSCOW: Moscow is prepared to hand back two military bases to Georgia within 10 years, or four years earlier than originally planned, a senior Russian defence official said on Thursday. "This new Russian offer has been well received by the Georgian side," news agencies quoted Russia's deputy defence minister, General Alexander Kosovan, as saying. However, while the offer should still be regarded as informal and had "not yet been officially extended," to Tbilisi, negotiations on the bases should nevertheless start next month, Kosovan said. The two bases, Akhalkaladi and Batumi, located in south and southwest areas of Georgia, have long been a source of tension between Moscow and Tbilisi. Georgia insists Moscow hand back the two bases within three years at the latest but Russia is pressing Georgia to accept its new offer, with Kosovan saying Moscow will not withdraw 1,500 of its troops stationed near Tbilisi "until an agreement has been reached on the date of the handover of Akhalkadi and Batumi." Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said last month that Moscow could revise the date of the troop withdrawal as a result of the expected deployment in Georgia of 200 US troops to train security forces in anti-terrorism methods. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
