RUSSIA RE-DEPLOYS ITS MILITARY HARDWARE FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug. 17, 2006

TBILISI, August 17 (Itar-Tass) – A convoy of 13 tracked vehicles and
trucks will leave the Russian military base in Akhalkalaki, Georgia,
on Thursday and will head for a military base in Gyumri in Armenia.

This is the 12th and the last shipment of Russian military hardware
from Akhalkalaki base to be re-deployed in Armenia, the Akhalkalaki
base headquarters told Itar-Tass. Most Russian military hardware and
weapons from the Akhalkalaki base are being sent to Russia, the rest
will be delivered by truck convoys to Gyumri.

Russia plans to complete its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki before the
end of 2007 and close the base a year later in 2008.