MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Georgia's parliament ratified Thursday the agreements on the pullout of Russian military bases from the Caucasus Mountain nation and transit of Russian military cargoes on the country's territory.

    In the accord signed by Russian and Georgian officials in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on March 31, the two sides agreed to complete the phased withdrawal of the Russian bases and other military installations in Georgia by the end of 2008, Russian newsagencies said.

    The first document envisions the gradual withdrawal of the Russian bases and military facilities during 2008. The Russian base in Akhalkalaki will be closed in 2007 and in Batumi in 2008. Russian servicemen will deal with pulling out hardware and other property.

    The second agreement determines the procedure of transit of military cargoes of the Russian Defense Ministry via the territory of Georgia and the personnel, including servicemen of the 102nd military base in Gyumri (Armenia).

    The agreement on transit is effective within five years and it may be extended if necessary. Both sides have the right to annual the agreement if "any point of the agreement is violated or the movement of hardware and cargoes poses a threat to security and interests of Georgia, and its population," Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Meraba Antadze said.

    In his words, both agreements are effective. "This point was included in the agreement on the insistence of Georgia because it was not ruled out that the State Duma may delay the ratification of these agreements. Under this point, Russia obliged to comply with the agreement when it was signed," the Georgian diplomat stressed.

    Russia inherited four military bases in Georgia from the Soviet Union and has withdrawn two of them. It struck a deal with Georgiain May last year to pull out the remaining two bases by the end of 2008.

    Nearly 3,000 Russian servicemen are deployed in the Akhalkalakiand Batumi bases. Enditem