Georgia bans Russian military transit to Armenia

The Georgian parliament passed a decision, which annuls the deal signed between Russia and Georgia on March 31, 2006 allowing the Russian military transit to its bases in Armenia.

The decision was approved unanimously on the President Mikheil Saakashvili’s initiative, Armenia Today reported.

The five –year agreement on transit of military personnel and cargo, giving Russia access to its 102nd military base in Gyumri, Armenia through land and air via Georgia, was signed in March, 2006 in Sochi, together with a separate agreement based on which Russia pulled out its military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki. The both of the agreements were ratified by the Georgian Parliament on April 13, 2006.

Georgian deputy foreign minister Nino Kalandadze said that taken the current situation of the Russian-Georgian relations into consideration, it wouldn’t be appropriate to use the Georgian territories as a transit. "We are loyal to our commitments. Before the end of the agreement’s term, the President sent an initiative to the parliament and we will inform the Russian side about the annulment of the deal".


/APA/