MOSCOW. Jan 26 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, after talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, denied that the U.S. is planning to set up military bases in Georgia and said U.S. military instructors in Georgia are in the process of completing their mission.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Russia "has taken into consideration the American side's statement that the U.S. does not plan to establish any bases in Georgia and that military cooperation between Georgia and the U.S. is aimed at strengthening Georgia's potential in combating international terrorism."
Ivanov also said he came to an understanding with the Georgian leadership on Sunday that the two countries would appoint working groups on military bases and other issues "as soon as the formation of the new Georgian government is completed."
"It is of essential importance that this problem be dealt with in the context of developing our relations in other fields - political, economic, humanitarian," Ivanov said.
Powell hailed Russia's declared desire to build up its relations with Georgia and described Russia's stance on its military bases in Georgia as flexible.