Russian Troops in Georgia to Be Paid in Local Currency

(Tbilisi. March 25, 2003. Civil Georgia) – From May 1 the salaries of employees of the Russian military bases in Georgia will be paid in Georgian national currency – Lari, not in Russian Roubles.

Representatives of the Georgian and Russian National Banks signed the agreement concerning the issue in Tbilisi on March 24.

The Georgian Parliament welcomed today the signing of the agreement. According to the agreement Russian servicemen will be paid in Georgian currency in Batumi and Akhalkalaki.

“This is important not only from the economic point of view, but also it is very important political decision. This is the expression of the Russia’s political good will,” Nino Burjanadze, Parliamentary Chairperson said at the Parliamentary session today.

Georgian government has argued that use of the Russian Roubles by the Russian military breaches the economic security and integrity of Georgia. In the town of Akhalkalaki, home to the Russian military base, most of the trade is carried out in Russian currency. 

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