Two days of talks in Tbilisi on 10-11 February between Russian and Georgian government officials failed to make any progress

Two days of talks in Tbilisi on 10-11 February between Russian and Georgian government officials failed to make any progress either on the terms and timeframe for closing Russian military bases in Georgia and establishing a joint antiterrorism center in their place, or on the terms of the framework treaty of friendship and cooperation that has been under discussion since 2001, Russian and Georgian media reported. Russian Ambassador Igor Savolskii, who headed the Russian delegation, told journalists on 11 February that the Georgian side has retreated from an earlier tentative agreement on creating the antiterrorism center. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze for his part said on 12 February that while Georgia was ready to make unspecified compromises, Russia refused to make any concessions. Antadze implied that Russia simply wants to redesignate its two bases as part of the antiterrorism center, without reducing military personnel or the amount of military equipment. Georgian parliament deputy Giga Bokeria told the independent television station Rustavi-2 on 12 February that if Moscow refuses to close the bases, Georgia will declare them illegal, Caucasus Press reported. On 11 February, parliament speaker Nino Burdjanadze said work on the framework treaty is deadlocked due to disagreement over Georgia's right to "strategic partnership" and military cooperation with other countries, Caucasus Press reported. Russia apparently wants a clause written into the treaty under which Georgia pledges that it will not host military bases from a third country on its territory. Georgian officials have repeatedly said that Georgia has no interest in doing so, but that it is inappropriate to include such a clause in the bilateral treaty with Russia.