Official stresses economic problems in Armenian-populated Georgian districts
Ayots Ashkar, Yerevan
6 Apr 05 p 4
Excerpt from Vaan Vardanyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Ayots
Ashkar on 6 April headlined “Tension in Javakhk will not be defused
only by means of statements”
An interview with an advisor to the Armenian prime minister, Stepan
Markaryan.
[Ayots Ashkar correspondent] Mr Markaryan, after the recent protest
actions in Akhalkalaki [Armenian-populated Georgian district], some
Georgian and Armenian circles said that Russia has initiated this
“process” so that the military base deployed in Akhalkalaki is not
withdrawn.
[Stepan Markaryan] Naturally, the local residents cannot decide
on the Russian base withdrawal. This problem should be settled
through Russian-Georgian negotiations. Georgia’s position is
very clear cut. Georgia has brought forward the deadline for the
withdrawal. Incidentally, Russia too does not rule out that the base
could be withdrawn over the next three years.
But the social and economic situation should not be linked to the
existence of the Russian base. The number of ethnic Armenians working
at the base was reduced earlier. Today there are several hundreds of
them. For this reason, several hundred people could have hardly staged
rallies, if not for the whole mixture of social and economic problems
which have not been settled in Javakhk [Georgia’s Armenian-populated
Javakheti region] for many years. Another problem is that this reality
has taken on a different meaning at present.
[Correspondent] What do you mean?
[Markaryan] I do not know why but they have raised the issue of
visas for local Armenians to enter Russia, whereas 20,000-30,000
people leave Javakhk annually to go to work abroad. This has become
a tradition since the Soviet times because there is nothing to do in
Javakhk. At least one person from every family works abroad.
It is clear that if the local residents do not go to work abroad,
the social situation in the two Armenian-populated regions will worsen
sharply. This is the problem which may not be settled by the Georgian
authorities at present by providing jobs to the people.
[Correspondent] The first rally was followed by the second one. Can one
say that this was the result of the Georgian authorities’ indifference?
[Markaryan] No, it was not because after the first rally, the
organizers met the Georgian interior minister. He gave clear answers
to the raised problems and said that some problems could be settled
quickly. For instance, there were some problems connected with issuing
passports and they seem to have been settled.
Incidentally, the second rally did not have specific slogans. Its
organizers said that the authorities had promised to settle the
problems raised by them but they simply did not trust them.
[Passage omitted: on schools in Javakheti]
[Correspondent] What role may Armenia play in defusing the situation
in Javakhk?
[Markaryan] These rallies are not anti-state demonstrations of
ethnic Armenians in Georgia, their main problem is the social and
economic situation. Undoubtedly, Armenia should continue working
together with Georgia to resolve the existing problems. Armenia has
moral obligations regarding ethnic Armenians living in Georgia and,
in particular, in Javakhk. Simply, we have to act jointly with the
Georgian side. The tension will not be relieved if we just say:
Stop worsening the situation.