Georgian, Russian officials begin handover of tank repair plant

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
2 Jun 05

[Presenter] The Russian Defence Ministry wants to remove some equipment
from the [Tbilisi] tank repair plant. The process of handing the plant
over to Georgia officially began today. Only Russian and Armenian
equipment is repaired at the plant. The handover process should be
completed by 15 June. Deputy Defence Minister Davit Sikharulidze went
to the plant with journalists today, although Georgian journalists were
only allowed to look at the plant from the outside. Sopo Kvintradze
joins us live. What do the Russians want to remove from the plant?

[Correspondent] The main problem during the discussion today was
the removal of vehicles from the plant. Russia says this equipment
consists of cars and several portable generators which belong to the
Russian Group of Forces in the Transcaucasus and not the plant itself
and therefore they want to remove them. [Passage omitted]

Both sides say the talks process is proceeding normally. A special
commission has been formed and a delegation has arrived from the
Russian Defence Ministry. This joint commission is examining and
conducting an inventory of equipment currently at the plant such as
the machine tools necessary to repair tanks. The Russians say they
will certainly meet the deadline and the inventory process will be
completed by 15 June.

[Aleksandr Popov, commander of the Group of Russian Forces in the
Transcaucasus; our files give name of commander as Aleksandr Bespalov]
We all know the text of the joint declaration signed by our two
foreign ministers, in which it is written that the plant should be
handed over by 15 June. I think we will be able to do it by 12 or
13 June. There is a commission of specialists from Moscow, there is
a protocol we signed back in November, there is the will and a plan
of action. The work is continuing, with the exception of the small
problem which suddenly appeared today, but the Georgian side agreed
to decide the issue on Monday [6 June].

[Correspondent] This plant has not been functioning for two years
now. It has been closed, but workers say that the Defence Ministry
intends to reopen it once it becomes Georgian property. Once it
has been equipped, the plant can effect major repairs to 45 tanks
each month.