OSCE Chairman welcomes Russian-Georgian declaration on base closure

LJUBLJANA, 31 May 2005 - OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel on Tuesday welcomed a joint declaration of the foreign ministers of the Russian Federation and Georgia on the closure of Russian bases and other military facilities in Georgia, which was adopted on 30 May in Moscow.

"This declaration marks significant progress in the talks between the two States on this and other vital issues on their bilateral agenda and establishes a constructive basis for the enhancement of good-neighbourly relations," he said.

The two foreign ministers agreed that Russia would complete the closure of the military bases at Batumi and Akhalkalaki and other military facilities in Georgia by 2008.

The Chairman-in-Office welcomed the intention of the two countries to sign an agreement soon on the details of the withdrawal operation, as foreseen in the Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and Georgia made during the OSCE Summit in Istanbul on 17 November 1999.

The Chairman-in-Office expressed satisfaction with the decision of the sides to enable an international mission to monitor the situation at the site of the former Russian military base in Gudauta. A report from such a mission would serve as the basis for a conclusion on the fulfilment of commitments contained in the Istanbul Statement.

"The Chairmanship is ready to promote active involvement of the OSCE in support of such monitoring, should this be requested by the relevant parties," he added.