MOSCOW, July 23 (AVN) - Delegation leaders at the Russian-Georgian military negotiations will meet here on Thursday to discuss reduction of Russia's military presence in the Trans-Caucasus in accordance with the Istanbul agreements, a spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry told the Military News Agency.
The Russian delegation will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and the Georgian one by Interior Minister Irakly Menagarishvili.
For the first time the protocol of the previous leg of negotiations did not indicate the terms of the next leg. The parties postponed its term twice and finally agreed to hold it on Thursday.
During the meeting Klebanov and Menagarishvili are going to co-ordinate terms of military bases staying in Akhalkalaki and Batumi. Earlier Russia proposed to withdraw the base in 14 years while Georgia insisted on three years.
The parties will analyse the reasons behind the suspension of the 50th military bas's withdrawal from Gudauta and rectify the functioning term of almost 20 military installations which Russia needs to support activities of the remaining bases.
However, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said that when the republic enters NATO or finds other ways of co-operation with the Alliance it would have no Russian military bases. According to Shevardnadze, currently co-operation between Georgia and NATO develops "quite successfully" and the republic has a "real partnership" with the Alliance.
Though it is "impossible" to speak on the concrete terms of Georgia's joining NATO, said Shevardnadze who wanted to "knock on NATO's door" in 2005.