NEXT ECHELON WITH RUSSIAN MILITARY ARMS SENT FROM GEORGIA
Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2007
Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend E.Huseynov / On the 7th of June the
next echelon with the Russian military arms was sent from Georgia to
Russia via the territory of Azerbaijan. It is already the fifth echelon
which has been sent from Georgia to Russia since May. The echelon
comprised of 35 platforms and carriages – property of Russian Troops
in Caucasus (GRTC), which is withdrawn from Georgia. The carriages
comprised of 5 tanks, 44 units of armor equipment and spare parts
of material-technical property, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia
informed by telephone.
An agreement on the transportation of echelons to Russia through the
rail links of Azerbaijan was reached last year at Inter-Governmental
level. By the end of the year, 14 Russian echelons will be withdrawn
from Georgia. Five echelons will be sent to Armenia to the 102nd
Russian military base in Gurmy city. According to the information
provided by the Defence Ministry of Russia, the 62nd Russian military
base in Akhalkalaki should be closed by the end of 2007 and the 12th
Russian military base in Batumi within 2008.
Earlier the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia, Vladimir Isakov ,
said that transporting the Russian military equipment via Azerbaijan
will provide an opportunity to simplify the withdrawal of the Russian
troops and decrease the expenses of the Russian Defense Ministry.