Armenian Georgians Rebuff Russian Base Withdrawal
Rallies of many thousands were held in Georgian Akhalkalaki to protest against the pullout of Russian military bases. The rallies were triggered by the last week’s ultimatum of the Georgian parliament, calling for Russia to determine by May 15 the exact dates for withdrawal of its military bases from Akhalkalaki and Batumi.
One of the military bases to be pulled out under the parliamentary ultimatum is located in Akhalkalaki, the Javakheti region, where the borders of Georgia, Armenia and Turkey are meeting. It is a region with nearly 100 percent of Armenian population. In Akhalkalaki base, the local Armenians serve under military contracts or work as civilian employees. Despite the continuous pledges of the Georgian executives to make up for the loss of employment, establish new working places and transfer the base infrastructure to the local authorities, Akhalkalaki residents rebuff withdrawal of Russia’s motor rifle division. Javakhk organization, which is advocating Javakheti autonomy within Georgian, is the usual leader.
This time was not an exception. Javakheti has responded to the March 10 resolution of the Georgian parliament, in which the latter recommended authorities to start forcing Russian troops out of Georgia after May 15. From 5,000 to 6,000 people took part in the rallies staged past weekend in Akhalkalaki. The protesters were calling for the base blockade if Russia has to start withdrawal, intending to resort to the actions taken in Pridnestrovie. “We won’t allow withdrawal of Russian troops. We will stand in the way and hinder pullout, even if the process starts,” one of the Javakhk leaders told Kommersant.
At the meetings, the protestors were saying that a Turkish base will replace the Russian one in Akhalkalaki. Georgia denies the rumors.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 14, 2005
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