Moscow, Tbilisi Agree on Military Transit via Georgia

The Russian and Georgian sides agreed text of an agreement over transit of Russian military freight and personnel via Georgia during the talks in Tbilisi on September 8, the Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries reported.

According to the Georgian Foreign Ministry the agreement, which still needs to be agreed with the top leadership in the both countries, will give Russia access to its military base in Gyumri, Armenia, via Georgia after the Russia?s two military bases will be pulled out from Georgia.

A joint declaration signed by the Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers in Moscow on May 30 over withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia reads: ?During 2005, the sides would develop and Agreement on organizing the transit through the territory of Georgia in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense, in accordance with principles and norms of the international law.?

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze, who led the Georgian delegation at the talks, said on September 8 that issues relating to the handover of Russia?s remaining military facilities to the Georgian side were also discussed.

?The sides stressed that the Russian side really meets their commitments,? Antadze told reporters after the talks.

The Russian delegation was led by Igor Savolsky, the Russian Foreign Ministry?s special envoy for CIS affairs and Russia?s chief negotiator in the talks over the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.

The Russian side has already pulled out part of its military equipment and hardware from the Batumi and Akhalkalaki military bases and handed over some military facilities to Georgia. According to a joint declaration signed by the Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministers on May 30, Russia should completely pull out its bases in the course of 2008.

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