Russian Defense Minister comments on Georgian debts to Russia

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov denied Tbilisi's statements aboutthe existence of some Russian debts to Georgia. In particular, Georgiaclaims that it did not receive its share in the weapons arsenal of theSoviet Union. According to the Minister, in the period from 1992 to 1995Tbilisi received 12 helicopters, more than 350 armored vehicles, more than3,000 automobiles, 15 anti-aircraft defense complexes, more than 400cannons, 49 mortars, more than 47,000 pieces of small arms and more than230 railcars of ammunition of the USSR Armed Forces regiments located inGeorgia at that time. Moreover, in the period from 1992 to 1999 about 80military communities were transferred to the Georgian Defense Ministry.Ivanov was quoted as saying that Tbilisi owed Moscow some $157m in statecredits, $150m in gas and electricity debts. Georgian air companies owe$3.7m for the air navigation services. On the whole, the debt of Georgiancompanies is $18m more than Russian companies owe Georgian enterprises, theRussian Defense Minister specified, the Kommersant newspaper reported..