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Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
May 24 2005
Javakheti Armenians Urged To Accept Russian Base Closure
By Emil Danielyan
Civic groups in Georgia's Armenian-populated Javakheti region called
on the local population on Tuesday to stop protesting against and
come to terms with the eventual closure of a Russian military base
stationed in the area.
A coalition of local non-governmental organizations was reported to
urge the Javakheti Armenians to accept its withdrawal, demanded by
the authorities in Tbilisi, as a `fait accompli.' A joint statement
issued by them came as the Russian and Georgian governments reported
further progress in their difficult talks on a timetable for ending
the longtime Russian military presence in Georgia.
The Javakheti town of Akhalkalaki is home to the two Russian bases in
Georgia. It has also been the single largest employer in the
economically depressed and restive area ever since the Soviet
collapse. Hence, the local population's strong opposition to its
closure.
`True, the military base in Akhalkalaki has somewhat mitigated
economic problems and served as a psychological security guarantee,
but the Javakheti people should not consider its withdrawal a
tragedy,' read the NGO statement cited by the local A-Info news
agency. `If the Georgian state fails to ensure the security of the
Javakheti people, one can always count on the assistance of the
international community and international law.'
Tbilisi has long been seeking the closure of the Russian bases,
regarding them as a holdover from the Soviet era that hampers its
efforts to forge closer links with NATO and the European Union. The
administration of the pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili
stepped up pressure on Moscow last March, threatening to declare the
Russian military presence illegal.
The move was resented by many Javakheti Armenians. Thousands of them
rallied in Akhalkalaki on March 13 in support of the Russian base.
The protest was widely covered by state-run Russian media.
President Robert Kocharian unexpectedly traveled to Georgia for
informal talks with Saakashvili on April 1, just days after another
rally in Akhalkalaki. The situation in Javakheti was high on the
agenda of the meeting. Saakashvili said afterward that he is
satisfied with Yerevan's position on the issue.
While regularly pressing the Georgians to alleviate hardship in
Javakheti, the authorities in Yerevan have always sought to restrain
the local Armenians, including pro-Russian nationalist activists. It
was not clear if the latter were among the signatories of the
statement.
Meanwhile, Georgia's Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said late
Monday that Tbilisi and Moscow are close to finalizing an agreement
on the time frame and other terms of the Russian pullout. Georgia has
insisted the bases be out by January 2008, but Russia wants more time
to prepare infrastructure to house the returning troops and
equipment. Georgian officials have indicated that they would not mind
if the Russians agree to close them in the course of 2008.
Russia's armed forces chief of staff General Yuri Baluyevsky said
last week Moscow might have to move some of the Akhalkalaki base's
military hardware to Armenia where it has stronger military presence.
The Russian military has already done that in the past.
Baluyevsky's statement drew protests from Azerbaijan. "Such
developments will not serve the interests of peace and security in
the region and will create tensions ... in the process of solving the
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry said in a note to Moscow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
May 24 2005
Javakheti Armenians Urged To Accept Russian Base Closure
By Emil Danielyan
Civic groups in Georgia's Armenian-populated Javakheti region called
on the local population on Tuesday to stop protesting against and
come to terms with the eventual closure of a Russian military base
stationed in the area.
A coalition of local non-governmental organizations was reported to
urge the Javakheti Armenians to accept its withdrawal, demanded by
the authorities in Tbilisi, as a `fait accompli.' A joint statement
issued by them came as the Russian and Georgian governments reported
further progress in their difficult talks on a timetable for ending
the longtime Russian military presence in Georgia.
The Javakheti town of Akhalkalaki is home to the two Russian bases in
Georgia. It has also been the single largest employer in the
economically depressed and restive area ever since the Soviet
collapse. Hence, the local population's strong opposition to its
closure.
`True, the military base in Akhalkalaki has somewhat mitigated
economic problems and served as a psychological security guarantee,
but the Javakheti people should not consider its withdrawal a
tragedy,' read the NGO statement cited by the local A-Info news
agency. `If the Georgian state fails to ensure the security of the
Javakheti people, one can always count on the assistance of the
international community and international law.'
Tbilisi has long been seeking the closure of the Russian bases,
regarding them as a holdover from the Soviet era that hampers its
efforts to forge closer links with NATO and the European Union. The
administration of the pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili
stepped up pressure on Moscow last March, threatening to declare the
Russian military presence illegal.
The move was resented by many Javakheti Armenians. Thousands of them
rallied in Akhalkalaki on March 13 in support of the Russian base.
The protest was widely covered by state-run Russian media.
President Robert Kocharian unexpectedly traveled to Georgia for
informal talks with Saakashvili on April 1, just days after another
rally in Akhalkalaki. The situation in Javakheti was high on the
agenda of the meeting. Saakashvili said afterward that he is
satisfied with Yerevan's position on the issue.
While regularly pressing the Georgians to alleviate hardship in
Javakheti, the authorities in Yerevan have always sought to restrain
the local Armenians, including pro-Russian nationalist activists. It
was not clear if the latter were among the signatories of the
statement.
Meanwhile, Georgia's Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said late
Monday that Tbilisi and Moscow are close to finalizing an agreement
on the time frame and other terms of the Russian pullout. Georgia has
insisted the bases be out by January 2008, but Russia wants more time
to prepare infrastructure to house the returning troops and
equipment. Georgian officials have indicated that they would not mind
if the Russians agree to close them in the course of 2008.
Russia's armed forces chief of staff General Yuri Baluyevsky said
last week Moscow might have to move some of the Akhalkalaki base's
military hardware to Armenia where it has stronger military presence.
The Russian military has already done that in the past.
Baluyevsky's statement drew protests from Azerbaijan. "Such
developments will not serve the interests of peace and security in
the region and will create tensions ... in the process of solving the
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry said in a note to Moscow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress