Civil Georgia
April 28 2005

Saakashvili Pledges Jobs to Locals in Akhalkalaki after Base Pullout

28/04/2005 20:36

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on April 28 while meeting
with visiting Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Artur Bagdasarian
that Tbilisi plans to implement new social rehabilitation program for
those ethnic Armenians, who face unemployment after the pullout of
Russian military base from Akhalkalaki, a town in Georgia’s
south-western region of Samtskhe-Javakheti.

`We do not intend to open a new military unit there [instead of
Russian military base]; though those [residents of Akhalkalaki, who
are currently employed in the Russian military base] who wish can be
employed at other Georgian military bases. For others, who do not
wish to stay in the army, we will develop a separate employment
programs, business-oriented projects,’ Saakashvili said.

In March, residents of Akhalkalaki, which is predominately populated
by ethnic Armenians, held a protest rally twice and spoke against
withdrawal of Russian military base stationed there.