TBILISI. Nov 11 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia will not change its position on the withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia, Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"Russia must fulfil the resolutions adopted at the 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit and withdraw its military bases from Georgia," Bezhuashvili said.
"Changes in Georgia's position on the matter are out of the question," he stressed.
If Russia continues to protract the talks on the withdrawal of its bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki, the Georgian party has the right to ban Russian troops from staying in its territory any longer, Bezhuashvili noted. In this case Georgia may demand immediate withdrawal of Russian military bases, he said.
Russia says it is ready to withdraw all its bases from Georgia within 11 years. Georgia wants it to be done within three years.