WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN ARMS FROM GEORGIA NOT TO DESTABILIZE SITUATION

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 31 2006

RBC, 31.05.2006, Baku 16:36:47.The withdrawal of a small portion
of military equipment and assets from the Georgian military base in
Akhalkalaki to the Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia, cannot destabilize
the political-military situation in the region, Vice Minister and
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told a press conference in Baku,
noting that it was not so much equipment, but rather military assets
that were being removed from Georgia. At the same time, he stressed
that this did not go against Russia’s obligations under the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Azeri information agency
Trend reported.

Most of the military hardware will be withdrawn from the Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki through Azerbaijan to Russia, according
to the minister. As for the Russian peacekeeping presence in Georgia,
Moscow has no plans to cancel their 6-month rotation, and will continue
to follow all the procedures in this regard as stipulated in respective
agreements, Ivanov stated.