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ETHNIC ARMENIANS IN GEORGIA WANT RUSSIAN BASE AS PROTECTION "FROM THE TURKS"
RTR Russia TV, Moscow
27 Apr 06
[Presenter] The accords between Moscow and Tbilisi on the closure
of Russian military bases in Georgia have encountered an unexpected
obstacle. It appears that officials forgot to consult the residents of
Akhalkalaki District, on whose territory a Russian base is located. If
it closes, their life will be stripped of its most important element
- the stability that the Georgian authorities are incapable of
guaranteeing them. This report by Ia Bersenadze explains how the
inhabitants of Akhalkalaki are trying to defend their rights.
[Correspondent] These military vehicles leaving the 62nd Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki for a routine manoeuvre were obliged
to turn back. Several hundred local inhabitants, protesting at the
planned closure of the base next year, blocked the road and stopped
them passing.
[Villager Garik Manukyan, speaking vernacular, with Russian
translation] The Russian military must not leave Akhalkalaki. They
must defend us from the Turks, because Georgia is incapable of
protecting us.
[Correspondent] Akhalkalaki has always been regarded as a special
area of Georgia. Almost 90 per cent of the population here are ethnic
Armenians. An absolute majority of them do not speak Georgian. For
this reason, they have not been accepted for jobs with state
institutions. The problem of unemployment has always been one of the
main ones.
The Akhalkalaki area is called Georgia's Siberia because of its harsh
climate. Even at the end of April, when the air temperature in the
rest of Georgia reaches plus 20 degrees, it is still below freezing
here. In this town there are neither plants nor factories. The only
place where, until recently, local inhabitants could find work is
the 62nd Russian military base in the town of Akhalkalaki.
For the last four years (?Musheg Donoyan) has been living in a
well-appointed flat on the military estate. He and his wife work as
teachers at the school located within the base. His children also
study there. They have no complaints about their life. But they are
apprehensive about the future.
[Musheg Donoyan, teacher] If you come back here in a year or two's
time, you will find us using a little cooking stove to heat this flat.
[Correspondent] The border with Turkey, a country which belongs to
NATO, is only 40 km from here. For this reason, the military base was
a most important link in the Soviet defence system. Local Armenians
still regard it as a guarantee of their security.
[David Rstakyan, resident of Akhalkalaki, speaking Russian] What
we are doing is dictated by our own security. This is not a circus
performance, as the powers that be say. This is simply dictated by
the Armenian population's instinct for self-preservation.
[Correspondent] It is the Georgian minister of internal affairs
who calls the protests in Akhalkalaki a circus performance and
a charade. Vano Merabishvili claims there is no justification
whatsoever for mass protests and popular unrest in this region
and that the situation is completely under control. However, local
residents do not share the optimism of the Tbilisi authorities. If
the base closes, they say, we will lose a guarantee of peaceful life,
as well as our livelihoods.
[Video, captioned "Akhalkalaki, Georgia", shows a crowd of people
surrounding an armoured vehicle on a snowy track. An officer
aboard a command and control vehicle addresses the people. Camera
shows the vehicle reversing, then a battered road sign saying
"Akhalkalaki". Correspondent delivers her piece from in front of
the main entrance to the base, which is guarded by two soldiers at a
barrier. Another sequence shows a squad of troops marching at the base
and the same armoured vehicle seen before, as well as a land rover-type
vehicle. Snow-covered mountains are visible in the background. Another
shot shows news conference by Georgian ministers. There is a final
glimpse of a slogan about military reform at the base.]
RTR Russia TV, Moscow
27 Apr 06
[Presenter] The accords between Moscow and Tbilisi on the closure
of Russian military bases in Georgia have encountered an unexpected
obstacle. It appears that officials forgot to consult the residents of
Akhalkalaki District, on whose territory a Russian base is located. If
it closes, their life will be stripped of its most important element
- the stability that the Georgian authorities are incapable of
guaranteeing them. This report by Ia Bersenadze explains how the
inhabitants of Akhalkalaki are trying to defend their rights.
[Correspondent] These military vehicles leaving the 62nd Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki for a routine manoeuvre were obliged
to turn back. Several hundred local inhabitants, protesting at the
planned closure of the base next year, blocked the road and stopped
them passing.
[Villager Garik Manukyan, speaking vernacular, with Russian
translation] The Russian military must not leave Akhalkalaki. They
must defend us from the Turks, because Georgia is incapable of
protecting us.
[Correspondent] Akhalkalaki has always been regarded as a special
area of Georgia. Almost 90 per cent of the population here are ethnic
Armenians. An absolute majority of them do not speak Georgian. For
this reason, they have not been accepted for jobs with state
institutions. The problem of unemployment has always been one of the
main ones.
The Akhalkalaki area is called Georgia's Siberia because of its harsh
climate. Even at the end of April, when the air temperature in the
rest of Georgia reaches plus 20 degrees, it is still below freezing
here. In this town there are neither plants nor factories. The only
place where, until recently, local inhabitants could find work is
the 62nd Russian military base in the town of Akhalkalaki.
For the last four years (?Musheg Donoyan) has been living in a
well-appointed flat on the military estate. He and his wife work as
teachers at the school located within the base. His children also
study there. They have no complaints about their life. But they are
apprehensive about the future.
[Musheg Donoyan, teacher] If you come back here in a year or two's
time, you will find us using a little cooking stove to heat this flat.
[Correspondent] The border with Turkey, a country which belongs to
NATO, is only 40 km from here. For this reason, the military base was
a most important link in the Soviet defence system. Local Armenians
still regard it as a guarantee of their security.
[David Rstakyan, resident of Akhalkalaki, speaking Russian] What
we are doing is dictated by our own security. This is not a circus
performance, as the powers that be say. This is simply dictated by
the Armenian population's instinct for self-preservation.
[Correspondent] It is the Georgian minister of internal affairs
who calls the protests in Akhalkalaki a circus performance and
a charade. Vano Merabishvili claims there is no justification
whatsoever for mass protests and popular unrest in this region
and that the situation is completely under control. However, local
residents do not share the optimism of the Tbilisi authorities. If
the base closes, they say, we will lose a guarantee of peaceful life,
as well as our livelihoods.
[Video, captioned "Akhalkalaki, Georgia", shows a crowd of people
surrounding an armoured vehicle on a snowy track. An officer
aboard a command and control vehicle addresses the people. Camera
shows the vehicle reversing, then a battered road sign saying
"Akhalkalaki". Correspondent delivers her piece from in front of
the main entrance to the base, which is guarded by two soldiers at a
barrier. Another sequence shows a squad of troops marching at the base
and the same armoured vehicle seen before, as well as a land rover-type
vehicle. Snow-covered mountains are visible in the background. Another
shot shows news conference by Georgian ministers. There is a final
glimpse of a slogan about military reform at the base.]