FROM 2008 RUSSIAN MILITARY WILL BE DEPLOYED IN ARMENIA ONLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.11.2006 18:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The reduction of the Group of Russian Troops in
Transcaucasus (GRVZ) is conditioned by the withdrawal of Russian forces
from Georgia, said chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense
Alexey Sigutkin. The decision of reformation of the GRVZ was taken over
the change of tasks of the Russian military contingent in Georgia. The
most important task now is to secure the withdrawal of troops from
Georgia to Russia," the deputy said. In his opinion, from January 1
2008 the necessity of deployment of the Russian operative group in
Georgia will drop off. "Russian troops will remain in Armenia. It
will be Armenian but not Transcaucasian group of troops," he said.

According to GRVZ commander Andrey Popov, an operative group of 13
military will be deployed either in Akhalkalaki or Batumi. The 102nd
Russian military base in Armenia numbers 3000 servicemen. The term
of stay is 25 years, reports Rosbalt.