RUSSIAN TROOPS IN GEORGIA NO LONGER FACTOR OF STABILITY:
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY VICE SPEAKER

YEREVAN, JULY 26. ARMINFO. “Foreign troops can be guarantor of
security and factor of stability in Georgia and anywhere only in case
of legal presence,” said Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Vahan Hovhannissyan in response to the questions of the participants
of the 3rd All Armenian Youth Forum today.

He said that the Armenian community in Georgia, and in particular, the
region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, must not become an instrument of
pressure on Georgia in the hands of foreign forces. Hovhannissyan
thinks withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia is a solved issue
and non-fulfillment of the schedule of withdrawal may just aggravate
the domestic political situation in the neighboring state. Signing of
the Convention of the Council of Europe for National Minorities must
become a guarantor of security for the Armenians of Javakhk and a
factor of stability in the region, the vice speaker thinks. He
assured that Armenia would not go on any steps threatening the
sovereignty of Georgia, it would protect the rights of its
compatriots through a dialogue with the Georgian authorities in
accordance with the Law. The financial support of Armenia must
contribute to maintaining the Armenian ethnics and monuments of the
Armenian culture in Georgia, Hovhannissyan thinks.

The vice speaker expressed confidence that all the problems of the
two states would get their resolution as soon as Armenia and Georgia
integrated into European structures.