Georgia, Russia to Sign Military Transit, Base Pullout Treaties
On March 31 Georgian and Russian officials will sign two agreements at Russia’s Black Sea Resort town of Sochi – one on the timeframe and modalities of functioning, rules and withdrawal of the Russian military bases from Georgia and another on the transit of Russian military personnel and cargo via Georgia.
Georgian First Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava will sign these agreements.
The agreement on the withdrawal of the Russian military bases is based on a joint declaration signed between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ex-Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili in May, 2005. Russia has pledged to pull out its military bases from Georgia by the end of 2008.
The agreement on transit of military personnel and cargo will enable Russia to gain access to its military base in Gyumri, Armenia via Georgia.
According to Russian sources the transit agreement obliges that Russia not transfer any armament to a third country through the Georgian territory. The amount of military cargo that will be transited via Georgia will also be agreed between Russia and Georgia one year in advance.
Russia also undertakes the commitment not to transit biological, nuclear or chemical substances, or weapon of mass destruction or their components.
According to the draft agreement, Georgia can refuse the transit of items if the movement of the military cargo poses a threat to its national security or if the final destination of the transited military cargo is a location within a conflict zone or a warring state.
