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EU hopes Russia to withdraw bases from Georgia

PLA Daily 2004-01-16

MOSCOW, Jan. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Union high representative for common foreign and security policy Javier Solana called on Russia to withdraw its military bases from Georgia in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Thursday, Russian news agencies reported.

In the meantime, Solana said that the EU is not considering giving financial aid to Russia to assist in the withdrawal, but it will give maximum assistance to Georgia in this respect.

Russia has maintained its troops in Georgia since the Soviet era. It has removed two military bases from the former Soviet republic under an agreement achieved with Georgia in 1999 but has left two others in operation. So far the two sides have not reached any agreement on the dates of the withdrawal of the remaining bases.

Solana also said that the EU could take part in a peacekeeping operation in Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia only with a UN mandate.

The EU will not hold a peacekeeping operation in any region without authorization from the UN security, but the EU can carry out the mission if the authorization is given, Solana said.

Solana arrived in Tbilisi for a two-day visit.