GEORGIA ACCUSES RUSSIA OF DELAYING TANK REPAIR PLANT HANDOVER

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
31 Jan 05

(Presenter) The Russian tank repair plant (in Tbilisi) still belongs
to its old owner. Russia was supposed to have the plant handed over to
Georgia on 30 January, but the Russians are not in a hurry.

The plant, which is situated in Moskovis Avenue, is used as a service
centre for equipment belonging to the Russian and Armenian armed
forces.

The Defence Ministry says that Russia has failed to meet its
obligations.

(Davit Sikharulidze, deputy defence minister) As in all other cases,
in this specific case the Georgian side has honoured all its
obligations. As I said before, unlike all other civilized countries,
this is how you negotiate with Russia: first, you need to make a lot
of effort to agree with it about something and sign a document, but
then you need to do even more to make sure that this document is
implemented.