MosNews, Russia
March 14 2005

Hundreds of Georgians Protest Against Russian Military Pullout

MosNews

About 1,500 residents in a southern Georgian town gathered Monday to
protest the future withdrawal of a Russian military base, the
Associated Press news agency reports.

The rally demonstrated local objections to Georgia’s firm intention
to close down the last two remaining Soviet-era bases.

Participants in the rally called on the Georgian government not to
rush the pullout of the 62nd Russian military base, saying they
feared for their livelihood. Many residents of the town of
Akhalkalaki, close to the border with Armenia, work at the base.

They adopted an appeal to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to
help solve the region’s social and economic problems.

Georgia and Russia have been sparring furiously over the timetable
for withdrawal. Tbilisi wants the troops out within two years, if not
earlier, while Moscow insists it needs at least four years, if not
more than a decade, to complete the job.

The Russian daily Kommersant said last week that Moscow is motivated
in part by fears its military presence in Armenia – its closest ally
in the strategic Caucasus region – could be at risk if it pulls out
of Georgia.

Russia does not border Armenia, and uses Georgian territory to move
troops and equipment to its military base there.