ARMENIAN GROUPS IN GEORGIA ADVOCATE AUTONOMY

Journal of Turkish weekly
Sept 27 2005

Jan SOYKOK (JTW) – A group of non-governmental organizations based
in Georgia’s southern region of Javakhk, predominately populated by
ethnic Armenians, held a conference on September 23-24 to discuss
current problems in the region, Armenian newspaper Asbarez reported.

According to the report the Armenians demanded greater autonomy
including elections for all bodies. The Georgia experts argue that
such claims mean separation of Georgia.

The Council of Armenian non-governmental organizations in Javakhk also
called on the Tblisi leadership to consider granting autonomy to the
region with `broad authority for self-governance, including the right
to hold elections for all bodies of governance.’ The resolution further
says that by offering the broadest form of autonomy to South Ossetia
and Abkhazia, the Georgian authorities are `discriminating against
other ethnicities living in Georgia–the rights of other ethnicities
who have demonstrated civil loyalty are being ignored,’ it reads.

However Dr. Yesim Sahiner says the declaration simply means a
separation of Georgia: “Armenians seek to establish their own country
in Georgia. They hope they could separate Javakity from Georgia. They
will then annex the territory to Armenian Republic. Another Armenian
aim is to separate Ossettia and Abkhazia. In Abkhazia in particular
there is a significant Armenians and they plan to establish a
Abkahazian-Armenian state.”

Kemal Yurteri, a Turkish Caucaus expert, similarly warn both Georgians
and Armenians that such a separation would be a disaster for the
region:

“None of the Caucasian countries need more territories. Armenian
irredentism caused great catastrophe in the past. Armenian forces
occupied almost 20 percent of Azerbaijan and attacked the other
Azeri province of Nahcivan. However none of the Armenian problems has
been solved since then. The EU and the OSCE accuse Armenia of being
occupier in Karabakh. Armenia still relies on Russian military while
the other countries aim to integrate their economies. If the Georgia
Armenians undermine Georgia’s territorial integrity, it will damage
both Georgia and Armenia. Turkey and the United States should take
measures to prevent the separatist movements in Georgia. Otherwise
the Western and Turkish interests too will be damaged a lot”.