RUSSIA PARTLY WITHDRAWS MILITARY HARDWARE FROM GEORGIA
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
17 Aug 06
Tbilisi, 17 August: The Russian Defence Ministry has completed
the withdrawal of military hardware from the base in Akhalkalaki,
southern Georgia, to Armenia. The last 12th convoy carrying 13 tracked
and wheeled vehicles left Akhalkalaki today, the headquarters of the
military base told ITAR-TASS. This hardware will add to the vehicles
of the [Russian] Defence Ministry’s facility deployed in the Armenian
town of Gyumri.
The first convoy of military hardware left Akhalkalaki following this
route on 18 May. "In line with the existing agreements, representatives
of Georgian law-enforcement agencies accompanied the Russian convoy
to the Armenian border which is some 50 km from the base," the
headquarters added.
The pull-out of military hardware from the Akhalkalaki base (the
bulk of it is transported to Russia by trains) is to be completed
this year. The base will be closed in 2007. A total of 14 trainloads
with Russian military hardware and other property were sent to Russia
from 15 May to 15 August. Another five trainloads will be dispatched
to Russia this year, the last one is to be sent on 19 September.
Next year the pull-out of the weapons and military hardware from the
Russian base in Batumi will continue.