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TBILISI: Georgian, Russian officials begin handover of tank repairpl

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  • TBILISI: Georgian, Russian officials begin handover of tank repairpl

    Georgian, Russian officials begin handover of tank repair plant

    Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
    2 Jun 05

    [Presenter] The Russian Defence Ministry wants to remove some equipment
    from the [Tbilisi] tank repair plant. The process of handing the plant
    over to Georgia officially began today. Only Russian and Armenian
    equipment is repaired at the plant. The handover process should be
    completed by 15 June. Deputy Defence Minister Davit Sikharulidze went
    to the plant with journalists today, although Georgian journalists were
    only allowed to look at the plant from the outside. Sopo Kvintradze
    joins us live. What do the Russians want to remove from the plant?

    [Correspondent] The main problem during the discussion today was
    the removal of vehicles from the plant. Russia says this equipment
    consists of cars and several portable generators which belong to the
    Russian Group of Forces in the Transcaucasus and not the plant itself
    and therefore they want to remove them. [Passage omitted]

    Both sides say the talks process is proceeding normally. A special
    commission has been formed and a delegation has arrived from the
    Russian Defence Ministry. This joint commission is examining and
    conducting an inventory of equipment currently at the plant such as
    the machine tools necessary to repair tanks. The Russians say they
    will certainly meet the deadline and the inventory process will be
    completed by 15 June.

    [Aleksandr Popov, commander of the Group of Russian Forces in the
    Transcaucasus; our files give name of commander as Aleksandr Bespalov]
    We all know the text of the joint declaration signed by our two
    foreign ministers, in which it is written that the plant should be
    handed over by 15 June. I think we will be able to do it by 12 or
    13 June. There is a commission of specialists from Moscow, there is
    a protocol we signed back in November, there is the will and a plan
    of action. The work is continuing, with the exception of the small
    problem which suddenly appeared today, but the Georgian side agreed
    to decide the issue on Monday [6 June].

    [Correspondent] This plant has not been functioning for two years
    now. It has been closed, but workers say that the Defence Ministry
    intends to reopen it once it becomes Georgian property. Once it
    has been equipped, the plant can effect major repairs to 45 tanks
    each month.
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