RUSSIA'S JAVAKHK DIASPORA URGES GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES TO DECLARE SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI NATIONAL-CULTURAL AUTONOMY
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2010 - 17:58 AMT 12:58 GMT
The Javakheti Diaspora of Russia disseminated a statement with respect
to the upcoming visit of Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze to
Armenia. It says that the Georgian authorities transfer their country
into a mono-ethnic state, while nationalism and discrimination continue
growing in the country. President Mikheil Saakashvili aspires towards
construction of a national state. And it is well-known that there are
two ways for it - assimilation and emigration. Currently, Tbilisi is
trying to assimilate the national minorities residing in Georgia.
The statement notes that Armenians of Samtskhe-Javakheti are deprived
of the opportunity to create in Armenian language, though they make
a majority in the aforementioned region.
"Nevertheless, as per European conventions on national minorities
rights protection, which are signed, but not ratified by Georgia, a
national minority making 20% of population has the right to use its
native language as a language of court proceeding and education. It
is evident that the Georgian authorities violate the existing
international standards in this matter," reads the statement.
Authors of the statement believe that false rumors intentionally
disseminated by some Georgian media about Javakhk are vain and
there are not any separatist moods in the region. The problem of
a cultural autonomy exists there in part. "It is ridiculous not to
have a cultural autonomy in the region, where even Georgians speak
Armenian better than their native language - Georgian. Taking this
into consideration, we, the Javakheti Diaspora of Russia, urge the
Georgian authorities to declare the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti a
national-cultural autonomy," reads the statement.
From: A. Papazian
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2010 - 17:58 AMT 12:58 GMT
The Javakheti Diaspora of Russia disseminated a statement with respect
to the upcoming visit of Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze to
Armenia. It says that the Georgian authorities transfer their country
into a mono-ethnic state, while nationalism and discrimination continue
growing in the country. President Mikheil Saakashvili aspires towards
construction of a national state. And it is well-known that there are
two ways for it - assimilation and emigration. Currently, Tbilisi is
trying to assimilate the national minorities residing in Georgia.
The statement notes that Armenians of Samtskhe-Javakheti are deprived
of the opportunity to create in Armenian language, though they make
a majority in the aforementioned region.
"Nevertheless, as per European conventions on national minorities
rights protection, which are signed, but not ratified by Georgia, a
national minority making 20% of population has the right to use its
native language as a language of court proceeding and education. It
is evident that the Georgian authorities violate the existing
international standards in this matter," reads the statement.
Authors of the statement believe that false rumors intentionally
disseminated by some Georgian media about Javakhk are vain and
there are not any separatist moods in the region. The problem of
a cultural autonomy exists there in part. "It is ridiculous not to
have a cultural autonomy in the region, where even Georgians speak
Armenian better than their native language - Georgian. Taking this
into consideration, we, the Javakheti Diaspora of Russia, urge the
Georgian authorities to declare the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti a
national-cultural autonomy," reads the statement.
From: A. Papazian