RUSSIA WITHDRAWS MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM GEORGIAN CAPITAL
International Herald Tribune, France
The Associated Press
Nov 16 2006
TBILISI, Georgia: A convoy of Russian military hardware and other
equipment left the Georgian capital Thursday en route to a base in
Armenia, a Russian official said Thursday, in the latest pullout of
materiel from the Caucasus Mountains nation.
The convoy – the first from the Russian forces’ central military
garrison in Tbilisi – was pulled ahead of schedule, said a deputy
commander overseeing Russian forces in the country, who asked that
his name not be used since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Nearly 390 personnel, more than 100 pieces of military vehicles and
some 350 tons of weapons and other equipment will be withdrawn by
year’s end, the official said.
After months of contentious negotiations, Georgia and Russia reached
agreement last year on pulling Russian forces out of two bases, which
both are scheduled to be fully closed by October 2008. Much of the
equipment was to be shipped to the Russian base at Gyumri, Armenia.
The closure affected some 3,000-4,000 Russian troops at the bases.
Relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent months
as Georgia accuses Russia of supporting separatists, and Russia fears
Georgia is moving further out of its shadow toward the West.
Interfax said the equipment was pulled out of the Tbilisi garrison
ahead of schedule due to the tense state of relations.