ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
May 12, 2006 Friday

Georgia troops to secure safe withdrawal of Russia base

by Tengiz Pachkoria

The units of the Georgian Defence Ministry and local law enforcement
bodies are to ensure security of the withdrawal of the weapons and
hardware of the Russian military base in Akhalkalaki.

A representative of the Trans-Caucasus Group of Russian Troops
(TCGRT) told ITAR-TASS on Friday that the “Georgian side will secure
under existing accords the process of the withdrawal of the hardware
and weapons of the Russian base in Akhalkalaki, which will be
accomplished by rail (in Russia) and motor roads (in Armenia to the
Russian base Gyumri)”.

Georgian media said on Friday that the Defence Ministry’s special
units had been relocated to Dzhavakheta province, in which
Akhalkalaki and Tsalka are, for ensuring a safe withdrawal of Russian
weapons.

The TCGRT representative said that the first train with the military
equipment and weapons had been prepared for leaving the Akhalkalaki
base.

Last week, the Russian military equipped a field camp and temporary
parking in Tsalka, which is located 50 kilometres from Akhalkalaki,
for forming the first train on which arms from the Akhalkalaki base
will be loaded on Saturday and Sunday.

Three other trains will trip to Russia on May 23, 25 and 30.

The TCGRT representative also said that “part of the hardware and
weapons of the Akhalkalaki base will be moved by truck to the Russian
base in Gyumri”, Armenia.

The first auto convoy will head to Armenia on May 18.

Under Georgian-Russian agreements, the withdrawn of the Akhalkalaki
base is to be completed during 2007.

Most of its equipment and weapons will be withdrawal of the base from
Georgia is to be completed in the period from May 15 to August 15 of
this year.