MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax-AVN) - Andrei Kokoshin, former first deputy defense minister and former Security Council secretary, said Russian military bases in Georgia continue to play a stabilizing role in the Trans-Caucasus.
"The Russian military bases located in Georgia are, primarily, of political and political-psychological significance. But their military role cannot be denied either. They did and do play a stabilizing role in the region, and have no negative impact on anyone's interests," Kokoshin told Interfax-Military News Agency, commenting on the Russian-Georgian talks on military issues set to begin on Wednesday.
If the Russian military bases are withdrawn from Georgia, the level of stability may go down, said Kokoshin, who currently chairs the State Duma's Committee for CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots.
"Much depends on how the situation in Georgia and in the South Caucasus as a whole develops, as far as the presence of other states and the general situation in the region and around it are concerned," he said.
He stressed that he has no grounds to foresee serious unfavorable developments. Russia has established good relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran, he noted.
"The situation in Georgia should be viewed in this whole context," Kokoshin stressed.
The agreement on the withdrawal of two Russian military bases from Georgia was reached at the OSCE summit in Istanbul in November 1999. The Russian military bases in Vaziani, nearby Tbilisi, and Gudauta, Abkhazia, have been withdrawn in accordance with the schedule.
The 12th base in Batumi, Ajaria, and the 62nd in Akhalkalaki are still in use. An accord was reached in Istanbul that Russia and Georgia will sign an agreement on the terms and conditions of these bases' functioning. The Russian side insisted during subsequent negotiations that it would take 14 years to withdraw these bases, while the Georgian side limited the term to 3-4 years. Russia is ready for the withdrawal within 7-8 years, but Georgia has announced a new term of two years.