TBILISI, July 13 (AVN) - Russia might not be able to begin withdrawal of armament and materiel from its military base in Georgia's Vaziani, a suburb of Tbilisi, on August 1, as it was envisaged by the Istanbul agreements, a high-ranking official of the Russian troop group in the Trans Caucasus told the Military News Agency.
According to him, the materiel was planned to be transported to the Gonio testing ground of the Russian 12th military base in Batumi, Adzharia. But no parking facilities have been fitted for its temporary stationing there. The group's financial service says some RUR6m (USD215,362) is needed for that.
US officials and representatives of the OSCE countries have many times claimed their readiness to take part in financing the Russian troops' withdrawal from Georgia. The respective application for financing the withdrawal has been filed by the group's command in the OSCE mission in Tbilisi. But no OSCE member state has replied so far.
Even if the money is allocated in the nearest future, the withdrawal will begin later than August 1, the official claimed. At least 1.5 or two months are needed to purchase necessary materials for constructing a parking lot in Gonio, he said.