Russia,Georgia to sign temporary agt on Russian military facilities
by Eka Mekhuzla

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 30, 2006 Thursday 08:15 PM EST

Russia and Georgia on Friday will sign an agreement in Sochi on the
terms and rules of temporary operation of Russian troops in Georgian
territory, including the military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki
and other facilities, the Georgian Defense Ministry has told Itar-Tass.

Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava will sign the agreement for Georgia.

Another document to be signed in Sochi will concern the transit of
Russian military cargoes and personnel through Georgia.

Under the agreement Georgian and Russian foreign ministers achieved
on May 30, 2005 the Russian military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki
are to be withdrawn over a period of 3.5 years (by the end of 2008).

Last summer saw the first phase of the withdrawal of heavy equipment
and armaments and motor transport. Most of the hardware was taken to
Russia (by land or by sea), and some pieces of equipment redeployed
to the Russian military base in Gyumri in neighboring Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress