RUSSIAN MIL EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTED FROM GEORGIA ACROSS AZERBAIJAN
Tengiz Pachkoria

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 1, 2006 Friday

A train carrying equipment from the Tbilisi-based Russian garrison
left Vaziani, Tbilisi’ suburbs, at 08:00 Moscow time on Friday for
Russia. It took the way across Azerbaijan, a source at the headquarters
of Russian troops in the Trans-Caucasian region said.

It is the second and last train to carry equipment of the garrison
to Russia. The first left on November 23.

Under the agreement, Georgia, together with Russia, ensures equipment
withdrawal safety.

On November 16, a train of the garrison left for Armenia, for the
Russian base in Gyumri.

The garrison property withdrawal from Georgia will be completed on
December 14 when one more train will leave for Gyumri.

The withdrawal is carried out ahead of schedule in accordance with
the Russian Defence Ministry’s decision. A total of 100 units of
machinery, 350 tonnes of equipment and ammunition and 387 servicemen
will be withdrawn. The garrison personnel will be carried by vehicles
from Georgia in the second half of December.

A small group of officers will remain in Georgia to continue their
service at the Russian base in Batumi to complete the withdrawal
of the bases from Akhalkalaki and Batumi. Under the agreements, the
first of them will be closed by October 1, 2007, and the second by
October 1, 2008.