RUSSIA SAYS 2006 PLAN ON GEORGIA PULLOUT ALMOST COMPLETE

RIA Novosti, Russia
19:16 | 18/ 09/ 2006

TBILISI, September 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s military said Monday
its plans for 2006 on withdrawing military hardware from bases in
Georgia will be completed Tuesday.

Under an agreement Russia and Georgia signed March 31, Russian troops
and hardware are to leave two Soviet-era bases in the southern city of
Akhalkalaki and Batumi in the west of Georgia by 2008. The withdrawal
is being monitored by a joint Georgian-Russian commission set up
under the March agreement.

"The 2006 plan for the withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia can
be considered 100% implemented," said Major General Andrei Popov,
commander of Russian troops in South Caucasus. "All the equipment
taken out from Georgia has been delivered to military units in Russia
and Armenia, and the last train loaded with equipment will leave the
Tsalka railroad station on September 19."

Popov said after September 19, the 62nd base in Akhalkalaki, which
the Tsalka station services, will house only vehicles needed for the
base’s functioning until late 2007.

He gave credit to the authorities of Azerbaijan, whose relations with
neighboring Armenia have been tense since the collapse of the Soviet
Union, for allowing the transit of military cargo through the country.

"The withdrawal procedure was simplified after Azerbaijan allowed
transit through its territory, and we have worked in close contact
with the country’s railroad workers, border guards and the military."

He said there had been no delays in or obstacles to the plan’s
implementation.

But he said it was only the first stage of the withdrawal, which will
continue until 2008. "I hope such issues as food support, movement of
vehicles about Georgia and mail deliveries will be solved as quickly
as issues related to the withdrawal."

Popov said shipments of military equipment in 2007 would be similar
to this year’s. "A total of 400 cars with equipment have been sent to
Russia through Azerbaijan in 2006, and shipments will be approximately
the same in 2007."

He said military hardware was to be withdrawn from the military base in
Batumi in 2007, and the base in Akhalkalaki must be closed by December
1, 2007. The staff of the 62nd base in Akhalkalaki would be transferred
to the 12th base in Batumi. "Georgia prohibits the deployment of new
servicemen, and the base in Batumi is 30% undermanned, which is why
we made the decision," Popov said.

He said the situation in Batumi would be completely different from
that in Akhalkalaki because Georgian police had toughened requirements
for the movement of military vehicles.

"Batumi is a resort, and we hope issues on and the deadline for the
pullout from the Batumi base will be coordinated with the Georgian
side in advance in order to avoid incidents during the tourist season,
which usually starts in July," Popov said.

The Russian government has earmarked 2.167 billion rubles ($81 million)
for the pullout from the bases.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress