Ivanov: New Army Brigades in North Caucasus to Protect Border

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on July 5 that the formation of two mountain rifle brigades at the Russo-Georgian border aims at ensuring security on this section of the border after the Russian military bases are withdrawn from Georgia, RIA Novosti news agency reported.  
 
?The brigades will provide assistance to border guards in case of an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the Russian territory from Georgia. If they [terrorists] appear, we will destroy them immediately and effectively,? Ivanov said.
 
He stated that these new brigades will be equipped with special armaments and modern helicopters and will be staffed with army contractors.
 
?2.4 billion rubles [approximately USD 83 million] have already been allocated from the Russian budget to finance the formation of these new brigades,? the Russian Defense Minister said.
 
Georgia and Russia agreed on May 30 that Russia will pull out its two military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki in the course of 2008.

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