RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS PEACEKEEPERS ROTATION GOES AHEAD IN SOUTH OSSETIA

NTV Mir, Moscow
31 May 06

[Presenter] Peacekeepers may be deployed in the zone of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Nagornyy Karabakh, Russian Defence
Minister Sergey Ivanov said today. He is visiting Baku. “The uncertain
situation cannot last forever,” he said. The minister also detailed
the plans to rotate the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia and
specified the reasons for their stay there.

[Ivanov] As far as our peacekeepers are concerned, they are acting on
the basis of agreements. Speaking of South Ossetia, it is within the
framework of the Joint Control Commission. The agreement to this effect
did not say anything about visas for peacekeepers, and we have no plans
to cancel the rotation. It will be carried out in the same way as it
has been carried out in recent years, through the Roki Pass [Tunnel]

[Presenter ] At least 500 Russian peacekeepers arrived in Tskhinvali
yesterday within the framework of rotation, and the Georgian Defence
Ministry has protested at the arrival. The ministry described the
peacekeepers as criminals because the servicemen crossed the Georgian
border without visas. Besides, the peacekeepers did no go past the
Verkhniy Lars checkpoint, but they used the Roki Tunnel, which,
according to the Georgian side, is a violation of rules.

The joint peacekeeping contingent has been stationed in South
Ossetia since 1992. It comprises Russian, Georgian and North
Ossetian battalions, with 500 men in each. In all the previous years
peacekeepers and hardware arrived in the conflict zone through the
Roki Tunnel.

[Interfax said at 0830 gmt that 500 servicemen of the 526th motor-rifle
Battalion of the 131st Maykopskaya Motor-Rifle Brigade is replacing
the 529th motor-rifle battalion of the same unit.]
From: Baghdasarian