(Click To Enlarge)Russian Bases To Stay In Separatist Regions -- The Australian
RUSSIA will establish permanent military bases in the Georgian separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abhazia next year, the chief of the Russian general staff said today.
"I think it will take us at least a year to set up these bases so that they fully meet our aims," General Nikolai Makarov told the Interfax news agency.
He was speaking on his return from Helsinki where he had met his US counterpart Admiral Michael Mullen.
"I think their establishment will be completed in 2009," he said.
He estimated that 3700 troops would be deployed in each of the two bases in the framework of the agreements with the two countries.
The bases "were aimed above all at defending our interests and those of these republics," Mr Makarov said.
Russia recognised the two breakaway territories on August 26 after a brief war at the beginning of the month when Georgia tried to re-establish control over South Ossetia.
In September Moscow signed cooperation agreements with the two territories allowing it to set up military bases in them.
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My Comment: By establishing these bases, Russia is saying to Georgia that they will now have no recourse but to accept the partition of their country. I have a very strong feeling that many Georgians do not agree with this assessment, and will soon be assisting rebel groups not only in these territories, but in Republics like Chechnya and Ingushetia.
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