January 12, 2004 - 19:39 AMT
RUSSIA CAN SHORTEN TERMS OF WITHDRAWING ITS MILITARY BASES FROM GEORGIA
Russia can shorten the terms of withdrawing its military bases from the Georgian territory, however it may be done with the certain financial and political guarantees provided by Tbilisi, ex-director of the Russian Federal Frontier Troops Andrey Nikolayev told Interfax agency. In his opinion, the 11-year term for withdrawing the bases could be cut to 8 or 7 years. "But at the same time Russia should receive corresponding political and economic guarantees from Tbilisi", - A. Nikolayev said. To remind, two Russian military bases - in Adzharia and Armenian-inhabited Akhalkalaki region- are deployed in Georgia.