Powell reiterates US call on Russia to pull bases out of Georgia
PLA Daily 2004-01-29
MOSCOW, Jan. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell reaffirmed a US call on Tuesday for Russia's withdrawal of forces from the former Soviet Caucasus republic of Georgia.
"The US position is that those forces should come out in accordance with the Istanbul commitments that the Russian Federation entered into in 1999," Powell said in an interview with the Moscow Echo radio.
He said Washington is willing to provide financial assistance to Russia in the resettlement of the personnel of Russian military bases to be withdrawn from Georgia.
Powell said he had discussed the assistance issue with Russia, but he declined to specify the amount of the financial aid.
The crux of the issue lies in the timing of the withdrawal, said Powell. And he urged both sides to work out a solution within a certain period of time.
Powell, who is on the second day of his two-day visit to Russia,also assured that new US bases in Europe and US military presence in Central Asia will not threaten Russia.
The United States has been trying to expand its military presence in eastern Europe, Central Asia and some former Soviet territories, causing great concern in Moscow, which has warned of "a corresponding reaction" to the US moves.
Powell told the radio that the number of US troops in Europe will be reduced and the remaining forces will be distributed rationally around Europe.
He added that the new bases in Europe will be temporary and used for exercises, troop transfers and other similar purposes.
He said these bases will not be an army surrounding Russia and warned against a Cold War approach to the problem.
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