THE ARMENIAN POPULATION OF THE AKHALKALAKI REGION OF GEORGIA

THE ARMENIAN POPULATION OF THE AKHALKALAKI REGION OF GEORGIA IS AGAINST THE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE
19.06.2000 16.00
19.06.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The Armenian population of the Akhalkalaki region of Georgia is
against the withdrawal of the Russian military base, as it connects its material well-being with the
presence of the base in the region.
As reports Prime-News, the parliamentarian of that region Melik Raisian stated that owing to the work as
civilians in the military base and other service given to the Russian military by the Akhalkalaki, "exists half
of the region", in which 76 thousand people reside.
Besides, as said Melik Raisian, the Armenians of the Akhalkalaki region, making up more than 90% of the
total number of the local inhabitants, still remember the raids of the Turks of the 20's. He thinks that the
Georgian frontier guards control the border with Turkey only symbolically, and the population of
Akhalkalaki region feels more confident in the conditions of the presence of the Russian military base.
As it is known, on July 1, 2001 the Russian bases in Vaziani and Gudauta must be withdrawn from
Georgia, after what negotiations regarding the bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi will begin. -0-