GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES BAN ARMENIAN MPS' SPEECHES IN JAVAAKHK
Tert.am
26.07.11
The Georgian authorities have banned two Armenian MPs from making a
speech in the Armenian populated region of Javakhk.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Armen Martirosyan of the opposition
Heritage party faction in parliament, and Artsvik Minasyan of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) said
thatthey had not allowed to speak at an event dedicated to Javakhk
born Armenian poet Vahan Teryan on Sunday.
Minasyan said ethnic Armenians from the provincial administration
had approached them during the event, and introducing themselves
as organizers, insisted that they speak. The latter said they had
delivered speeches at an event dedicated to the famous Armenian gusan,
Jivani, but the participants had reportedly got bored.
"But as it turned out later, neither they nor the security officials
were the decision makers ... And after the welcome speech in Russian,
it became clear that the developments followed the course they had
predetermined," Minasyan said, adding that the Georgian authorities
move could be seen as a measure to prevent them from voicing statements
in support of the Armenians in Javakhk.
"Javakhk is in a complicated situation as far as the preservation
of the Armenian identity is concerned, and we are really facing a
problem in terms of maintaining our cultural and linguistic heritage,
and our church," Martirosyan added.
The MP was particularly amazed that the Russian language was preferred
to Armenian in Georgia, a country whose policies stand out with their
anti-Russian character.
"That means Georgia finds Armenian a more dangerous, hostile language
than Russian," he said, adding that a member of the Heritage party's
board, Anahit Uzunyan, who managed to speak at the event was met with
strong resistance, and her microphone was turned off.
The MPs further called on the Armenian authorities to develop a special
concept aimed to resolve problems in Javakhk, and undertake concrete
steps in that direction.
Tert.am
26.07.11
The Georgian authorities have banned two Armenian MPs from making a
speech in the Armenian populated region of Javakhk.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Armen Martirosyan of the opposition
Heritage party faction in parliament, and Artsvik Minasyan of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) said
thatthey had not allowed to speak at an event dedicated to Javakhk
born Armenian poet Vahan Teryan on Sunday.
Minasyan said ethnic Armenians from the provincial administration
had approached them during the event, and introducing themselves
as organizers, insisted that they speak. The latter said they had
delivered speeches at an event dedicated to the famous Armenian gusan,
Jivani, but the participants had reportedly got bored.
"But as it turned out later, neither they nor the security officials
were the decision makers ... And after the welcome speech in Russian,
it became clear that the developments followed the course they had
predetermined," Minasyan said, adding that the Georgian authorities
move could be seen as a measure to prevent them from voicing statements
in support of the Armenians in Javakhk.
"Javakhk is in a complicated situation as far as the preservation
of the Armenian identity is concerned, and we are really facing a
problem in terms of maintaining our cultural and linguistic heritage,
and our church," Martirosyan added.
The MP was particularly amazed that the Russian language was preferred
to Armenian in Georgia, a country whose policies stand out with their
anti-Russian character.
"That means Georgia finds Armenian a more dangerous, hostile language
than Russian," he said, adding that a member of the Heritage party's
board, Anahit Uzunyan, who managed to speak at the event was met with
strong resistance, and her microphone was turned off.
The MPs further called on the Armenian authorities to develop a special
concept aimed to resolve problems in Javakhk, and undertake concrete
steps in that direction.