Georgia, Russia Sign Protocol on Cooperation

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov signed a protocol on military cooperation between the two countries on August 11 in Moscow.  

According to the agreement, Georgian officers will undergo training at the Military Schools of the Russian Defense Ministry. 

Russia also expressed a willingness to hand over a number of its military facilities deployed in Georgia to the Georgian side. 

As a result of the talks between the two Defense Ministers, the sides agreed to pull out all extra troops from the South Ossetian conflict area not part of the designated peacekeeping force there. 

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze and State Minister for Conflict Resolutions Goga Khaindrava returned from Moscow late on August 11.