TBILISI: Russians Are Going

RUSSIANS ARE GOING
By Keti Sikharulidze

The Messenger, Georgia
May 15 2006

Russian military base in Akhalkalaki

The Russian militaries have started the process of the withdrawal of
heavy military equipment from Akhalkalaki military base by loading
twenty one train carriages at Tsalka railway station on May 13.

The first train is to leave the territory of Georgia on May 15.

“A part of the equipment has already been loaded. Altogether there
will be loaded seven battle tanks, ten armored vehicles and amphibious
scout cars, as well as other military hardware would be withdrawn
from Akhalkalaki through the railway via Tsalka and Azerbaijan to the
Russian Federation,” Igor Konoshenkov, assistant commander-in-chief
of Russian Land Troops told Russian news agency RIA Novosti May 13.

A special train will arrive in Russia through Azerbaijan. Georgia
and Azerbaijan are responsible for the security of transportation on
their territories.

The loading of equipment was attended the representatives of the
Georgian armed forces General Staff.

“Everything goes according to the schedule. Certainly, everyone here
has their responsibilities, mainly the Georgian Military Forces are
responsible for the security,” Alexander Kiknadze, deputy General
Staff told Rustavi-2 Saturday.

The only problem that the Russian militaries faced was lack of
personnel as only one soldier had to load three or four cars.

“We do not have many problems, the only problem is lack of personnel
and it makes work more difficult. We faced the same problems last
year and in fact, one man has to make twice as more work,” Vladimir
Kuparadze Colonel of Russian Military Troops in the Caucasus told
Rustavi-2.

Meanwhile as it was reported the second train loaded with military
hardware will leave Georgia for Russia on May 23. One more train is
to leave for Russia through Azerbaijan from the Batumi military base.

The initial pullout of the Russian bases from the Georgian territory
started first in August 2005 when a vehicle convoy left the Russian
Military Base #12 in Batumi.

According to the Georgian-Russian agreement on the withdrawal of
the Russian bases signed on March 31, the Akhalkalaki base will be
closed by October 1, 2007. The heavy equipment in the Akhalkalaki and
Batumi bases must be removed by the end of this year. 370 pieces of
military hardware from Akhalkalaki base will be transferred to the
Russian Military Base 102 in Gyumri, Armenia.