Civil Georgia, Georgia
April 28 2006
Georgian MFA Comments on Akhalkalaki Base
The Georgian Foreign Ministry said on April 27 that there are
certain forces who will try `to derail the already ongoing process of
withdrawal’ of the Russian military base from Akhalkalaki under the
pretext of deteriorating social conditions in the region.
In an information note issued on April 27 the Foreign Ministry
commented on a protest rally which took place outside the Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki on April 25. The Russian Foreign
Ministry said that this protest rally by the local population against
the withdrawal of the Russian military base hindered the pull out of
military hardware from the base which was scheduled for April 26.
Many locals in Akhalkalaki, a a town predominantly populated by
ethnic Armenians, are employed at the Russian military base.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that a `rather small protest’
rally outside the base was held mainly by `Russian servicemen and
their family members.’
`The Georgian Authorities exercise full control over the situation
[in Akhalkalaki] and continue to unerringly comply with all
commitments under the [March 31, 2006] Agreement between the Russian
Federation and Georgia on Terms and Rules of Temporary Functioning
and Withdrawal of the Russian Military Bases,’ the Georgian Foreign
Ministry said.
The information note also stresses that the Georgian authorities are
planning `a series of effective’ social and economic rehabilitation
programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, including those in frames
of the U.S.-funded Millennium Challenge Account aid.