TBILISI. July 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia agreed to reduce the timeframe for the withdrawal of its bases in Georgia from 14 to 11 years, the Georgian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Kakha Sikharulidze told a briefing in Tbilisi on Friday.
He noted that Russian officials made this proposal at talks in Moscow on Thursday.
Even though Russia's position on the closure of the bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi has changed, Georgian leaders still believe that this process could be brought to completion within three years, Sikharulidze said.
Georgian experts made accurate calculations and think that doing so is feasible, Sikharulidze said. On the other hand, Georgia welcomes the very fact that talks with Russian officials on military issues have resumed, he said.
The continuation of talks with experts in August will hopefully push the positions on the timetable for the withdrawal of Russian troops closer together, Sikharulidze said.