Georgias breakaway region of South Ossetia said Wednesday it was prepared to allow Russian forces to use its territory for military bases for up to 99 years, the Interfax news agency reported. South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said his government had decided "to concede territory to install Russian border guard bases in the republic for 99 years," Interfax reported.
"Territory for the creation of military bases will be conceded, I think, for the same time period," he added. Kokoity expressed hope that agreements on Russian bases will be signed "as quickly as possible" so they could then be ratified by the breakaway regions parliament. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili meanwhile said Wednesday that Georgia was reorganising its military strategy to focus more on national defence.