Russia has formally handed over one of two last military bases in Georgia to Tbilisi, news agencies reported Wednesday.

It indicated a new step towards the full pullout of Russian military bases from the former soviet country.

Senior defense officers from the two countries inked an act of acceptance of the base, known as the 62nd military base in Akhalkalaki, in the Georgian Defense Ministry, Interfax and RIA news agencies said.

Georgia has said the location of the 15,000-man military complex, founded in 1910, is strategically important.

Russia inherited four military bases in Georgia from the Soviet Union and has withdrawn two of them. The two countries have agreed to complete the phased withdrawal of Russian bases and other military installations in Georgia by the end of 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2007)