DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY WITHDRAWN VIA AZERBAIJAN FROM RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN GEORGIA
Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 24 2007
Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr E. Huseynov / Defence equipment was
withdrawn from two Russian military bases in Georgia on 24 May. It
will be delivered to Russia via the Azerbaijani territory.
According to data provided by the Azerbaijani Embassy to Georgia on 24
May, the defence technology is being withdrawn from the 62nd Russian
military base located in Akhalkalaki and the 12th base in Batumi.
The agreement to withdraw four Russian military bases from Georgia
was signed in 1999 at the OSCE summit in Istanbul. In accordance with
the agreement, the 62nd Russian military base must be shut down by
the end of 2007 and the 12th Russian military base within 2008.
However, the head of the Joint Staff of the Russian Federation Armed
Forces, Yuri Baluevski, stated at the beginning of May that Russia
would complete the withdrawal as early as 2007.
The equipment assembled in one train has been sent from Khashuri
railway station and includes 33 carriages carrying mainly motor
transport facilities, armoured troop carriers, ammunition and property.
Fourteen trains with equipment and property must be withdrawn from
the Russian military bases in Georgia via Azerbaijan by the end of
August; another 5 trains will go to Armenia to the 102nd Russian
military base in Gumri.
In May, 2 trains with ammunition and defence equipment have been
withdrawn from the 12th Russia military base in Batumi, Georgia via
Azerbaijan. In compliance with the agreement, the defence equipment
will be withdrawn from Batumi every Thursday.
The Russian defence equipment is being withdrawn via the Azerbaijani
territory as it simplifies the withdrawal of troops and lowers the
cost for the Russian Defence Ministry.
The Russian-Georgian agreement stating the terms and the temporary
functioning and withdrawal of the Russian military bases and other
military units of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasia located
in Georgia was signed on 31 March, 2006.
–Boundary_(ID_tNdkUxHOllNlLsV1O/ty+Q)–