Georgia Demand Closure of Russian Military Base in Abkhazia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgia demands the Russian military base located in the Abkhazian town of Gudauta be close, Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili stated. "We demand the international community to present the complete picture of the developments. We also state that this base should share the fate of the Russian bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi," he said in an interview with Rustavi-2 TV Company. The Minister also informed that some three days ago an Abkhazian armed band attacked the base to take armament but the Russian military commenced fire and injured several Abkhazians. According to Okruashvili, this fact proved that the Russian military base in Gudauta still functions.



To remind, March 31 Russia and Georgia signed an agreement on the terms of the withdrawal and function order of the Russian military bases in Georgia. The matter concerns the bases located in Batumi (Ajaria) and Akhalkalaki (southern Georgia). The contingent of both bases should be withdrawn till the end of 2007. Until complete closure the Russian military can reside in dwellings in the town of Mtskheta. Besides the staff of the group of Russian troops in Transcaucasus located in Tbilisi will remain at their disposal. The Russian servicemen jointly with the Georgian military will use the communication means in the settlement of Kojori near Tbilisi and the military ground of Gonio in Ajaria.



Besides, Moscow and Tbilisi signed an agreement, according to which Georgia will grant transit for cargo destined for the Russian military base in Armenia. Okruashvili reminded that Russian peacekeepers are still present in the conflict regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia but the parliament works at the withdrawal scheme. "I hope the elaboration will be finished and the peacekeepers leave the territory till the end of the year," the Georgia Defense Minister stated, reported RIA Novosti.