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Russian weapons loaded on train in Georgia by schedule - official

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  • Russian weapons loaded on train in Georgia by schedule - official

    Itar-Tass, Russia
    May 14 2006

    Russian weapons loaded on train in Georgia by schedule - official



    TBILISI, May 13 (Itar-Tass) -- The loading of the first train with
    hardware and weapons from Russia's military base in Akhalkalaki is
    underway in the town of Tsalka, 50 kilometres from the base, and
    proceeding by schedule, Deputy Chief of the Georgian General Staff
    Alexander Kiknadze said.

    He is personally watching the loading at Tsalka. `Seven T-72 tanks,
    eight armoured reconnaissance vehicles, four armoured fighting
    vehicles, 28 automobiles, and 340 boxes of shells for Grad systems
    will be loaded today and tomorrow,' he said.

    Officers from the Group of Russian Troops in the Transcaucasia told
    journalists that `all technical questions and problems that could
    arise during the loading of hardware and weapons and their withdrawal
    have been resolved together with the Georgian side.'

    The weapons and hardware will take up 16 carriages, one carriage will
    be for the guards and two for the property to be withdrawn from the
    base to Russia, the command of the Russian troops in the
    Transcaucasia told Itar-Tass.

    Last week Russian troops set up a field camp and a ground for
    collecting trains at Tsalka. Military hardware and weapons to be
    shipped with the first train were brought to Tsalka in advance
    because there is no railway in Akhalkalaki.

    It will take two days to load the first train. It will leave Tsalka
    on May 15 to go to Russia via Azerbaijan. The next three trains will
    go to Russia on May 23, 25, and 30.

    Trucks will take some of the military hardware and weapons from the
    base in Akhalkalaki to the Russian base in Gyumri (Armenia). The
    first convoy of trucks will go there on May 18.

    The Georgian Defence Ministry and local law enforcement agencies will
    ensure the security of the withdrawal.

    The Russian pullout from Akhalkalaki will be completed in 2007. The
    biggest part of military hardware and weapons will be withdrawn
    between May 15 and August 15, 2006. The first motor vehicles left the
    base in Akhalkalaki in the summer of 2005.
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