GEORGIA RATIFIES AGREEMENTS ON PULLOUT OF RUSSIA MILITARY BASES
Editor: Luan Shanglin
Xinhua, China
April 13 2006
2006-04-14 03:46:13
MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) — Georgia’s parliament ratified Thursday
the agreements on the pullout of Russian military bases from the
Caucasus Mountain nation and transit of Russian military cargoes on
the country’s territory.
In the accord signed by Russian and Georgian officials in the Black
Sea resort of Sochi on March 31, the two sides agreed to complete the
phased withdrawal of the Russian bases and other military installations
in Georgia by the end of 2008, Russian newsagencies said.
The first document envisions the gradual withdrawal of the Russian
bases and military facilities during 2008. The Russian base in
Akhalkalaki will be closed in 2007 and in Batumi in 2008. Russian
servicemen will deal with pulling out hardware and other property.
The second agreement determines the procedure of transit of military
cargoes of the Russian Defense Ministry via the territory of Georgia
and the personnel, including servicemen of the 102nd military base
in Gyumri (Armenia).
The agreement on transit is effective within five years and it may
be extended if necessary. Both sides have the right to annual the
agreement if “any point of the agreement is violated or the movement
of hardware and cargoes poses a threat to security and interests of
Georgia, and its population,” Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Meraba
Antadze said.
In his words, both agreements are effective. “This point was included
in the agreement on the insistence of Georgia because it was not
ruled out that the State Duma may delay the ratification of these
agreements. Under this point, Russia obliged to comply with the
agreement when it was signed,” the Georgian diplomat stressed.
Russia inherited four military bases in Georgia from the Soviet Union
and has withdrawn two of them. It struck a deal with Georgiain May
last year to pull out the remaining two bases by the end of 2008.
Nearly 3,000 Russian servicemen are deployed in the Akhalkalakiand
Batumi bases.