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RUSSIA TRIES TO UNDERMINE JAVAKHETI
The Messenger
March 21 2012
Georgia
Soon, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be complete. The line passes
through the Javakheti region of Georgia before entering Turkey. This
is the same area where Moscow is trying to undermine the sovereignty
and people of Georgia, hoping to inspire the ethnic Armenia population
to declare yet another "independent state" on Georgian territory.
According to a Russian newspaper, the ethnic Armenian population in the
region wants to separate from Georgia and declare its independence. The
paper names Georgia's efforts to join NATO as the major reason
for their complaint, as when Georgia is granted membership it will
"automatically" become a major Turkish ally, which is supposedly
unacceptable to the Armenian population in Javakheti.
This is the opinion of Agas Aramyan, the leader of an organization
called Javakhk Diaspora in Russia, but not necessarily that of the
people living in the region itself.
So far, such provocative statements had been ignored by the Georgian
leadership. But on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze
deigned to comment, saying that ethnic conflicts in Georgia are in
the interests of the Russian Federation. She also mentioned that
Armenia successfully cooperates with NATO. But the idea of separatism
is still promoted by certain forces supported by the Kremlin, which
is actively trying to implement this project.
Officially, Yerevan is taking a wise policy. The government there has
not made any anti-Georgian statements; on the contrary, it is trying
to develop good neighbourly relations between the two states. This
position is shared by the Georgian side as well, as these countries
are fated to be neighbours forever - thus it is in our mutual interest
to preserve good relations.
The Messenger
March 21 2012
Georgia
Soon, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be complete. The line passes
through the Javakheti region of Georgia before entering Turkey. This
is the same area where Moscow is trying to undermine the sovereignty
and people of Georgia, hoping to inspire the ethnic Armenia population
to declare yet another "independent state" on Georgian territory.
According to a Russian newspaper, the ethnic Armenian population in the
region wants to separate from Georgia and declare its independence. The
paper names Georgia's efforts to join NATO as the major reason
for their complaint, as when Georgia is granted membership it will
"automatically" become a major Turkish ally, which is supposedly
unacceptable to the Armenian population in Javakheti.
This is the opinion of Agas Aramyan, the leader of an organization
called Javakhk Diaspora in Russia, but not necessarily that of the
people living in the region itself.
So far, such provocative statements had been ignored by the Georgian
leadership. But on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze
deigned to comment, saying that ethnic conflicts in Georgia are in
the interests of the Russian Federation. She also mentioned that
Armenia successfully cooperates with NATO. But the idea of separatism
is still promoted by certain forces supported by the Kremlin, which
is actively trying to implement this project.
Officially, Yerevan is taking a wise policy. The government there has
not made any anti-Georgian statements; on the contrary, it is trying
to develop good neighbourly relations between the two states. This
position is shared by the Georgian side as well, as these countries
are fated to be neighbours forever - thus it is in our mutual interest
to preserve good relations.