After years of stalled talks between the two, Georgia and Russia have signed a joint declaration pledging toward a specific plan for the pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia.

The Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries published a joint declaration, which outlines the process of withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia. It also deals border delimitation and conflict resolution issues. The Joint Declaration was signed by the to Ministers ???????? Sergey Lavrov and Salome Zourabichvili, after talks in Moscow on May 30.

According to the declaration Russia committed itself to putting its two military bases, in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, into ???????a pullout regime??????? starting from the signing of this declaration. The Russian side pledged to finish withdrawal process in the course of 2008. The Russian side has no right to carry out rotation of arms, or equipment during this pullout process. But has right to rotate solders currently serving on the bases.

The sides also agreed to launch talks over an agreement, which should prescribe details of setting up of a joint Russo-Georgian anti-terrorist center. Part of the personnel and equipment of the Russian military base currently stationed in Batumi will be used for setting up of this center.

Here is the full text of the declaration.

As I previously stated, these talks have been stalled for years. This is mainly due to Russia’s insistence on promoting stability with regards to the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, especially the latter. Georgia has also not had so much political backup as it has in recent years, with only the OSCE insisting on Russia’s withdrawal in 1999. President Bush’s trip for V-E Day celebrations in Russia was one of frank discussions with President Putin when they weren’t on camera. All in all, it came down to working out a mutually acceptable negotiation between the two neighbors. Putin must have realized that he would have had to withdraw eventually or face even further deterioration of relations with the former Soviet satellite. Hell, those bases were too costly anyway. However, as a bonus for Putin, Georgia will be assisting in the financial costs of removal and will be working on setting up a joint anti-terrorism center. This is important due to Georgia’s border with Chechnya and because of the Chechen rebels hiding within the mountainous regions.

Of course, while Putin saves a lot of face, Georgia gets the best end of this deal. Abkhazia’s presidential elections and independence referendums is widely seen to be marred with fraud. Russia’s troop presence in this region has basically been a means by which to establish ties, trade, and aid for political purposes, a prop up of sorts to the separatist politicians. Now that the direct influence will be removed, Saakashvili’s government can work on a resolution to that issue without too much meddling. This peaceful resolution in maintaining territorial sovereignty is the major pledge that the U.S. government has made to help the Georgian government, and it is a highlight of the recent deal with Russia as well.

With the removal of Russian troops will also be the fulfillment of a specific condition for joining NATO, a task Georgia is working hard to achieve. To note, the agreement did not spell the end of all foreign troops on national soil, something that Russia has previously called on Georgia’s parliament to vote on. This means that it is likely NATO troops will eventually have another base of deployment alongside of Russia in the near future and Georgia will be closer to the west than ever before.