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RUSSIAN BASE WITHDRAWAL FROM GEORGIA TO START MAY 25
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 17 2006
TBILISI, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will start withdrawing its
military base from Batumi in southwest Georgia on May 25, a senior
military official said Wednesday.
"The first train, carrying mostly communications, logistics and utility
equipment, will be sent to Armenia to supplement Russia's 102nd base
in Gyumri on May 25," said Igor Konoshenkov, deputy commander of
Russia's Land Forces.
In all, he said, six trains would be sent to Armenia and one to Russia
from Russia's 12th base in Batumi.
Under an agreement signed by Russia and Georgia March 31, Russian
troops will leave Russia's two Soviet-era military bases in Georgia -
Akhalkalaki and Batumi - by 2008.
The pullout from Akhalkalaki, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the
border with NATO-member Turkey started May 15, when the first train
with Russian military hardware left a railway station in Tsalka, 100
kilometers (62 miles) east of Akhalkalaki, for Russia via Azerbaijan.
Another train will leave May 23, while some equipment and hardware
from Akhalkalaki will be transported to the Russian base in Armenia
by motorcade on May 18.
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 17 2006
TBILISI, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will start withdrawing its
military base from Batumi in southwest Georgia on May 25, a senior
military official said Wednesday.
"The first train, carrying mostly communications, logistics and utility
equipment, will be sent to Armenia to supplement Russia's 102nd base
in Gyumri on May 25," said Igor Konoshenkov, deputy commander of
Russia's Land Forces.
In all, he said, six trains would be sent to Armenia and one to Russia
from Russia's 12th base in Batumi.
Under an agreement signed by Russia and Georgia March 31, Russian
troops will leave Russia's two Soviet-era military bases in Georgia -
Akhalkalaki and Batumi - by 2008.
The pullout from Akhalkalaki, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the
border with NATO-member Turkey started May 15, when the first train
with Russian military hardware left a railway station in Tsalka, 100
kilometers (62 miles) east of Akhalkalaki, for Russia via Azerbaijan.
Another train will leave May 23, while some equipment and hardware
from Akhalkalaki will be transported to the Russian base in Armenia
by motorcade on May 18.