Russia to Hand Over Military Facilities to Georgia

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on August 10 that Russia is ready to return its military facilities deployed in Georgia to the Georgian side.

?We are ready to hand over our military facilities deployed in Tbilisi, Akhalkalaki and Kobuleti to the Georgian side. We do not need these facilities,? Sergei Ivanov said after talks with his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Baramidze on August 10.

He said the issue of military cooperation between the two nations was also discussed during the talks. ?Russia is ready to train Georgian soldiers at the Russian military bases deployed in Georgia,? the Russian Minister added.

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze and State Minister for Conflict Resolutions Goga Khaindrava arrived in Moscow on August 9.

Talks over the recent developments in breakaway South Ossetia are also planned.