Russia has formally handed over one of two last military bases
in Georgia to Tbilisi, news agencies reported Wednesday.
It indicated a new step towards the full pullout of Russian
military bases from the former soviet country.
Senior defense officers from the two countries inked an act of
acceptance of the base, known as the 62nd military base in
Akhalkalaki, in the Georgian Defense Ministry, Interfax and RIA
news agencies said.
Georgia has said the location of the 15,000-man military
complex, founded in 1910, is strategically important.
Russia inherited four military bases in Georgia from the Soviet
Union and has withdrawn two of them. The two countries have agreed
to complete the phased withdrawal of Russian bases and other
military installations in Georgia by the end of 2008.
(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2007)
