RUSSIA LAUNCHED WITHDRAWAL OF ITS MATERIAL FROM BATUMI

PanARMENIAN.Net - The first motorcade composed of 9 cars loaded with military equipment today left the 12th Russian military base situated in Batumi. It is in the territory of Western Georgia at present. As reported by the Headquarters of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasia, the military cortege will arrive in Vladikavkaz by July 31 morning. The motorcade route is Batumi-Kutaisi-Khashuri-Vladikavkaz. Georgian MOD secures the cortege. The arms are withdrawn quietly. It should be reminded the arms are being withdrawn in compliance with a statement of the Georgian and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, signed in Moscow May 30 this year. In compliance with the document 40 units of heavy armored equipment, including 20 tanks, will be withdrawn from Batumi beginning on September 1 this year. The withdrawal will complete in 2008. Besides, 40 units of military equipment will be sent from Russian bases to the 102 military base in Gyumri, Armenia via two large descent vehicles August 4-5. These include 20 tanks, 10 Cube anti-aircraft and missile complexes, 5 armored intelligence and patrol machine (BRDM-2) and 5 Shikla anti-aircraft self-propelled mountings. It should be noted that literally yesterday it was not known when the Russian equipment may leave Georgia. Everything was ready to launching the withdrawal, however it appeared at the last moment that the drivers, who were to return to Georgia, did not have visas. Besides, there was no license for military equipment withdrawal. Due to these problems, urgent talks between the Russian and Georgian parties started at the Georgian MOD. To all appearance, these problems were solved, reported RBK.