TBILISI. Jan 24 (Interfax-AVN) - A motorcade of the Russian troops group in the Trans-Caucasus will leave Tbilisi for the Armenian town of Gyumri on Friday, a source in the group headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The motorcade consists of only transport vehicles on which servicemen of a separate signal battalion relocated from Georgia to Armenia late last year will deliver their personal belongings to a new place of service," the source said.
In addition, personnel of the battalion's financial service and counting department will move to the new location to calculate and effect due payments to servicemen of the battalion who have been fired in the framework of the reduction.
"The personnel of the battalion nearly halved as a result of the reduction," the source said.
The motorcade's movement on the Georgian territory is cleared with Georgian authorities.
Colonel Alexander Shiroky, aide to the group commander for construction and quartering, told Interfax-AVN that signalmen will have no problems with quartering in Gyumri.
"Active-duty servicemen have already moved in a barrack. In order to house families of officers, warrant officers, professional privates and sergeants, the Gyumri housing operation department has put "flats for hire wanted " ads in the town. Ten flats have been received this way," Shiroky said.
As the rent in Gyumri is not high, current compensations will allow the servicemen to pay the landlord without any problems.
Some servicemen have already been provided housing in the military compound.
"In addition, two houses will have been completed for servicemen of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri by summer this year. Their construction started yet in the Soviet times, but was suspended in the 1990s. The RUB12m (USD37,250) needed for the construction has been allocated and reconstruction launched, so when it is over, the housing fund of the 102nd Russian military base will get 30 extra flats," Shiroky said.
The relocation of the signal battalion, a repair shop for communication assets, and a military post office from Georgia to the 102nd base in Gyumri took place from December 20 to 25, 2002. A total of 100 vehicles were relocated. Motorcades reached the Armenian border without any troubles under escort of Georgian Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry officials.