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Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem tries to change Javakhk's ethnic composition
Saturday,
April 06
"The former Georgian authorities along with Mikhail Saakashvili
supported somewhat the return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakhk. In the
Soviet period up to 2009, about 300 families returned to Javakhk,'
Johnny Melikian, an expert on Georgia, told the correspondent of
Aysor.am, when commenting on the recent events related to Meskhetian
Turks' return to Javakhk.
According to J. Melikian, some 30,000-35,000 Meskhetian Turks
currently live in Turkey, the North Caucasus and Central Asia. In his
words, the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem promotes their return to
Javakhk, understanding that Javakhk is of great importance not only to
Georgia, but also to Armenia.
`Turkey and Azerbaijan want to change the ethnic composition of
Armenian-populated Javakhk and the demographic situation in that
region,' J. Melikian noted.
According to him, there are still some legislative obstacles to
Meskhetian Turks' return to Javakhk, and they have to collect a great
number of documents to be allowed to come back.
`Meskhetian Turks will have to live in Aspindza region mostly
populated by Georgians - the Georgian authorities want to show there
are no problems with Armenians,' the expert said. He noted that the
return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakhk is not in the national and state
interests of Armenia.
According to Melikian, the issue of Meskhetian Turks will be raised
during the Georgian president's visit to Turkey, and today the Turkish
side is prepared to restore Georgian churches in the territory of
Turkey in return for Georgia's permission for Turkey to build a mosque
in Georgia.
TODAY, 16:45
Aysor.am
Saturday,
April 06
"The former Georgian authorities along with Mikhail Saakashvili
supported somewhat the return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakhk. In the
Soviet period up to 2009, about 300 families returned to Javakhk,'
Johnny Melikian, an expert on Georgia, told the correspondent of
Aysor.am, when commenting on the recent events related to Meskhetian
Turks' return to Javakhk.
According to J. Melikian, some 30,000-35,000 Meskhetian Turks
currently live in Turkey, the North Caucasus and Central Asia. In his
words, the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem promotes their return to
Javakhk, understanding that Javakhk is of great importance not only to
Georgia, but also to Armenia.
`Turkey and Azerbaijan want to change the ethnic composition of
Armenian-populated Javakhk and the demographic situation in that
region,' J. Melikian noted.
According to him, there are still some legislative obstacles to
Meskhetian Turks' return to Javakhk, and they have to collect a great
number of documents to be allowed to come back.
`Meskhetian Turks will have to live in Aspindza region mostly
populated by Georgians - the Georgian authorities want to show there
are no problems with Armenians,' the expert said. He noted that the
return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakhk is not in the national and state
interests of Armenia.
According to Melikian, the issue of Meskhetian Turks will be raised
during the Georgian president's visit to Turkey, and today the Turkish
side is prepared to restore Georgian churches in the territory of
Turkey in return for Georgia's permission for Turkey to build a mosque
in Georgia.
TODAY, 16:45
Aysor.am