Tweet
The Messenger, Georgia
March 21 2014
Time bomb threat to Georgia
By Messenger Staff
Friday, March 21
With the background of the developments in Ukraine, there are more and
more intensive speculations in Georgia about granting the NATO
Membership Action Plan to Georgia. At the same time Russian President
Vladimir Putin repeats that he will not allow NATO expansion towards
the borders of the Russian Federation.
Under these circumstances, the Armenian MP Shirak Torosyan stated that
in the case of Georgia receiving the MAP or NATO membership, unrest
will follow in the Georgian territory of Javakheti where an ethnic
Armenian population is living and this region might take steps for
separating from Georgia.
Torosyan is notorious for his anti-Georgian sentiments. He often makes
statements in favor of the ethnic Armenian population in the Javakheti
region of Georgia.
During Mikheil Saakashvili's governance in Georgia, Torosyan was not
allowed to enter the country, however, the current Georgian
administration has lifted this ban.
In his interview with Panorama, an Armenian news agency, Torosyan
mentioned that Georgia becoming a member of NATO would create a
confrontation between Russia and NATO and Armenia cannot be
indifferent to this situation. Indirectly, it will touch Armenian
interests as well because the threat will appear for Yerevan coming
from the NATO member Turkey.
Torosyan's statement has been commented on by the ethnic Armenians in
Georgia. Former MP Van Baiburt stated that Torosyan and similar people
have no influence in Javakheti. He also mentioned that people of
Armenian ethnicity have been integrated to the Georgian population
harmoniously.
Another ethnic Armenian, Arnold Stepanian, who is the head of the NGO
Multi-National Georgia, stated that Torosyan's position is not
competent and there is no threat that Turkish troops would appear in
Georgia. Stepanian also mentioned that the Armenian Diaspora would not
be accepted in Georgia as a fifth column.
However, the Georgian analysts think that completely ignoring the
possible threats from this site is not a good idea as Russia will
definitely try to activate this possible time bomb.
An association in Russia, which unites the representatives from
Javakheti, often makes anti-Georgian statements. Some time ago they
disseminated the opinion that there is an opportunity for a new state
to appear, which would be inhabited by ethnic Armenians in southern
region of Georgia.
Definitely, the Georgian foreign policy targeted at integration with
the West should consider these threats because under the background of
the Ukrainian events these threats cannot be ignored.
Russia can trigger and activate this card as well to prevent Georgia
from integrating with NATO. It is known that the Russian President
Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have confirmed that their
move in escalating a military confrontation with Georgia in 2008 was
determined by Moscow's position, which did not want Georgia to join
NATO.
Many Georgians are frustrated with the Western position, which
according to Georgians, has encouraged Russia to attack Georgia when
it did not grant Georgia the MAP during the Bucharest Summit in April
2008.
If this time again the West does not stop the Russian aggression
against Ukraine in due time, this will definitely signal a green light
to the Kremlin to continue its imperialistic moves against other
former Soviet Union member states.
Analysts keep repeating that Moldova, Ukraine's eastern territories,
and of course Georgia, and some other states are under threat.
So, now it is NATO's turn and it's time for Western countries to make
a move which will yield serious results.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3078_march_21_2014/3078_edit.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
March 21 2014
Time bomb threat to Georgia
By Messenger Staff
Friday, March 21
With the background of the developments in Ukraine, there are more and
more intensive speculations in Georgia about granting the NATO
Membership Action Plan to Georgia. At the same time Russian President
Vladimir Putin repeats that he will not allow NATO expansion towards
the borders of the Russian Federation.
Under these circumstances, the Armenian MP Shirak Torosyan stated that
in the case of Georgia receiving the MAP or NATO membership, unrest
will follow in the Georgian territory of Javakheti where an ethnic
Armenian population is living and this region might take steps for
separating from Georgia.
Torosyan is notorious for his anti-Georgian sentiments. He often makes
statements in favor of the ethnic Armenian population in the Javakheti
region of Georgia.
During Mikheil Saakashvili's governance in Georgia, Torosyan was not
allowed to enter the country, however, the current Georgian
administration has lifted this ban.
In his interview with Panorama, an Armenian news agency, Torosyan
mentioned that Georgia becoming a member of NATO would create a
confrontation between Russia and NATO and Armenia cannot be
indifferent to this situation. Indirectly, it will touch Armenian
interests as well because the threat will appear for Yerevan coming
from the NATO member Turkey.
Torosyan's statement has been commented on by the ethnic Armenians in
Georgia. Former MP Van Baiburt stated that Torosyan and similar people
have no influence in Javakheti. He also mentioned that people of
Armenian ethnicity have been integrated to the Georgian population
harmoniously.
Another ethnic Armenian, Arnold Stepanian, who is the head of the NGO
Multi-National Georgia, stated that Torosyan's position is not
competent and there is no threat that Turkish troops would appear in
Georgia. Stepanian also mentioned that the Armenian Diaspora would not
be accepted in Georgia as a fifth column.
However, the Georgian analysts think that completely ignoring the
possible threats from this site is not a good idea as Russia will
definitely try to activate this possible time bomb.
An association in Russia, which unites the representatives from
Javakheti, often makes anti-Georgian statements. Some time ago they
disseminated the opinion that there is an opportunity for a new state
to appear, which would be inhabited by ethnic Armenians in southern
region of Georgia.
Definitely, the Georgian foreign policy targeted at integration with
the West should consider these threats because under the background of
the Ukrainian events these threats cannot be ignored.
Russia can trigger and activate this card as well to prevent Georgia
from integrating with NATO. It is known that the Russian President
Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have confirmed that their
move in escalating a military confrontation with Georgia in 2008 was
determined by Moscow's position, which did not want Georgia to join
NATO.
Many Georgians are frustrated with the Western position, which
according to Georgians, has encouraged Russia to attack Georgia when
it did not grant Georgia the MAP during the Bucharest Summit in April
2008.
If this time again the West does not stop the Russian aggression
against Ukraine in due time, this will definitely signal a green light
to the Kremlin to continue its imperialistic moves against other
former Soviet Union member states.
Analysts keep repeating that Moldova, Ukraine's eastern territories,
and of course Georgia, and some other states are under threat.
So, now it is NATO's turn and it's time for Western countries to make
a move which will yield serious results.
http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3078_march_21_2014/3078_edit.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress