Politician urges closer attention to Georgia’s Armenian-populated region

Aravot, Yerevan
7 Apr 05

Text of Nelli Grigoryan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 7 April
headlined “There is a danger that all the Armenians may leave Javakhk”

The leader of the Powerful Motherland Party, Vardan Vardanyan, has
commented on the events that are taking place in Javakhk [Georgia]
at the moment. “Under [former Georgian President Zviad] Gamsakhurdia,
when there was an attempt to enter Javakhk with a slogan ‘Georgia only
for Georgians’, residents of Javakhk did not succumb to provocation
and supported Georgian statehood. I am sure that the rallies taking
place today are not directed against the state,” Vardan Vardanyan said.

He said that the situation in Javakhk is really complicated and
“external forces” are trying to channel social and economic problems
in another direction. It is not by chance that rallies simultaneously
took place in Batumi and Javakhk. He agrees that the Russian military
bases do not resolve problems linked with unemployment today.

Moreover, Vardanyan said that residents of Javakhk understand very
well that rallies are not a way of solving problems. “About 20,000
residents have left Javakhk in order to find a job abroad. In this
situation, it is not by chance that the visa regime established by
the Russian side has become complicated. That’s to say, they are
doing everything possible to anger the residents of Javakhk,” he said.

“But one should understand the residents of Javakhk: what will happen
in the future and who will substitute these [Russian] troops?”

And what is Armenia’s task? Different programmes concerning Javakhk
have been prepared for many years: the authorities have changed, and
programmes have been extended as the number of problems has increased.

Today we say that the Georgian and Armenian authorities should
deal with Javakhk. Many people may say they cannot deal with
another country’s problems. First, Armenia has a problem with its
laws. Artificial customs problems on the border also deteriorate the
economic situation of residents of Javakhk. In this sense, I would like
to note that Armenia’s attitude towards Javakhk is not satisfactory,
to put it mildly. This may lead to serious consequences. Georgia
openly says that it is ready to cooperate with Armenia to fulfil
Armenian-Georgian programmes together. Otherwise, Armenians will
leave Javakhk. There is such a danger today. I think everybody can
understand what this means for Armenia. Javakhk is and will remain
a buffer zone in Armenian-Georgian relations.

“When we say that Armenia should pay attention to Javakhk, many
people think that our budget should be channelled there. No. The
state’s approach is quite another matter. Over the past several
years, spiritual, cultural and educational programmes supported by
the government have been implemented in Nagornyy Karabakh. Is it
impossible to implement such programmes in Javakhk as well?

We are anxious that the rallies may continue and, God forbid, damage
Armenian-Georgian relations. It is very important for everybody to
understand this and act in a way that will not allow external forces
to make use of the situation,” Vardanyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress