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RUSSIAN BASES IN GEORGIA STILL SPARK DEBATE

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will insist on its military bases remaining on Georgia's territory as long as possible, State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov told journalists Thursday.

"The main question that the representatives of Georgia and Russia must discuss is the question of the withdrawal of the bases and compensation for the property remaining on Georgia's territory. No accords currently exist. The Russian side is proposing both long terms and large sums," Mr. Gryzlov said.

According Mr. Gryzlov, the accord that stipulates the preparation of documents that could be used as the basis for discussion of a possible status for the Russian bases could be readied by Russian and Georgian experts within two months. He also mentioned the discussion of setting up a center for fighting terrorism in the North Caucasus on the basis of the Russian military base in Batumi, Adzharia.

Mr. Gryzlov also stated that Russia's secret services would continue to eliminate international terrorists operating on Russian territory.

He called the destruction of Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov "a positive factor."

Commenting on reports that Mr. Maskhadov's successor has already been named, Mr. Gryzlov noted that "the secret services" work to destroy terrorists will continue and the policy line of building a peaceful life will continue in Chechnya."

He noted that presidential elections had been held in the republic, and allowances and pensions, including the allowances for the loss of housing, are being paid.

"Peaceful life is being established in the republic," he said.

At the same time, according to a high-placed official in Russia's Defense Ministry, the Russian military bases in Georgia will be withdrawn no earlier than in three or four years, after new Russian mountain rifle brigades are formed in the Caucasus.

"Eternal Russian presence in Georgia is impossible. But we cannot pull our servicemen out of the bases remaining in Georgia [and send them] nowhere. We will leave for the Caucasus where mountain rifle brigades are being formed, and their formation will end in three to four years," he said.

The mountain rifle brigades' exact location in the Caucasus is yet clear. "Some points were cited, but I think that they will change," the source said.