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  • The process has begun

    Agency WPS
    DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
    August 1, 2005, Monday

    THE PROCESS HAS BEGUN

    SOURCE: Vremya Novostei, July 29, 2005, p. 5

    by Mikhail Vignansky

    THE FIRST COLUMN OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEAVES THE RUSSIAN MILITARY
    BASE IN BATUMI

    Today, the first column of military equipment is to leave the Russian
    military base in Batumi. It consists of nine staff automobiles of the
    12th Russian military base in Adzhariya and two convoy automobiles.
    Under own power the equipment will start for Vladikavkaz. "So, it can
    be said we begin the process of withdrawal of our bases", said to
    'Vremya Novostei' Deputy Commander of the Group of Russian Troops in
    Transcaucasia, Colonel Vladimir Kuparadze. The withdrawal of bases
    was set by the joint announcement of the foreign ministers of Russia
    and Georgia on May 30.

    Yesterday, from the 62nd military base in Akhalkalki to the 102nd
    Russian military base in Armenia, the Russian military tried to move
    radiation-chemical-biological defense machines. Mr. Kuparadze
    specifically highlighted that, that was not the beginning of
    withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia, but that was
    removal of excessive equipment the Russian base, which had begun long
    before the conclusion of the agreement by the foreign ministers.

    Georgian frontiersmen detained the column. There turned out to be too
    much "excesses" - frontiersmen found out that the Russian military
    had no document for a machine-gun and several signal pistols. "We
    explained that they comprised a component part of the armament
    complex of fighting reconnaissance patrol machines (BRDM). We were
    asked for additional documents, and we will deliver them. The
    commander of the 62nd military base in Akhalkalki have already
    prepared them", said Vladimir Kuparadze. In several hours, the column
    set on moving again.

    The next stage will be withdrawal of about 40 tanks and other armored
    equipment from the base in Batumi on August 5-10. Large landing ships
    from the Black Sea Fleet will arrive for them. The 12th base must be
    liquidated by 2008. As for the 62nd military base in Akhalkalki which
    must be liquidated by the end of 2007, Russia asks Georgia to prepare
    bridges on the route, as in their present state they won't bear heavy
    armored equipment. On the Russian bases in Georgia, there are now 115
    tanks, 220 land troops fighting machines and armored troop carriers,
    and 170 artillery systems.

    Translated by Tatiana Khramtsova
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