ETHNIC LEADER SEES AUTONOMY AS WAY OUT FOR GEORGIAN ARMENIANS
Haykakan Zhamanak, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
The leader of the ethnic Armenian party in Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti
region has said that if the Georgian authorities do not grant autonomy
to the region, they will do everything possible to achieve this. David
Rstakyan said that “inspired by what is taking place in Karabakh”, the
Georgian Armenians will collect signatures in favour of autonomy and
organize acts of civil disobedience. Asked if the Armenian authorities
do something to maintain stability in Samstkhe-Javakheti, Rstakyan said
“not only the Armenian authorities but all the Armenians are involved
in this process since we are one part of the Armenian nation”. The
following is excerpt from an Arman Karapetyan’s report by Armenian
newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak on 28 September headlined “We cannot stand
anymore”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
An interview with the chairman of the Virk organization, David
Rstakyan.
Autonomy demand response to Georgia’s “large-scale attack”
[Correspondent] Mr Rstakyan, the forum of public and political
organizations of Javakhk [Georgia’s Armenian-populated region of
Samtskhe-Javakheti] has adopted a statement calling for autonomy for
Javakhk. Can this statement become the reason for contacts between
Armenians of Javakhk and the Georgian authorities? Does this statement
mean that the fight for autonomy has started in Javakhk?
[Rstakyan] I should say, yes.
[Correspondent] To what extent it is the right time to demand autonomy
for Javakhk against a backdrop of geo-political events in the region?
[Rstakyan] Our demand does not contradict the Georgian Constitution.
But the word [autonomy] causes hysteria because of the events in
Abkhazia and [South] Ossetia. But in fact we have to take action
against the authorities of Georgia as they have launched a large-scale
attack against Javakhk.
The ethnic composition of Javakhk is changing and ethnic Georgians
are being appointed to high-ranking posts. That is to say, all our
efforts to halt this process have been fruitless. We are forced to
say that we cannot stand anymore.
They adopt laws that do not meet the interests of our nation.
Georgians have recently bought or rented 100 apartments in
Akhalkalaki. What does it mean? The number of Armenians is falling
because there is no job, but in fact Georgians have jobs. As for the
problems of Armenians, they do everything possible not to resolve
them and Armenians have to leave Javakhk. All this makes us take
measures in Javakhk to elect authorities which will be able to
guarantee our security.
[Correspondent] There are rumours that the public and political
organizations of Javakhk have been angered by the fact that Georgian
authorities are trying to be in control of them with the help of
Javakhk’s Armenian criminal authorities [as published]. Is this
the case?
[Rstakyan] I have noticed tendencies of this kind in Georgia’s security
agencies. This is really so.
[Correspondent] What was the reaction of Georgian politicians to
your claim?
[Rstakyan] The head of a Georgian media outlet asked me if somebody
tried to interfere in the work of the forum. I said nobody could
interfere since our demand does not contradict the constitution,
and those who will try to do this will be punished in line with the
constitution. As far as I understand, some forces could have tried
to hinder us. The same person told me that Georgia’s political elite
is worried about our statement.
Collecting signatures and “civil disobedience” planned
[Correspondent] What will Javakhk’s public and political organizations
do if the Georgian authorities refuse to meet their demand or
discuss it?
[Rstakyan] If they refuse to do so, we shall collect signatures within
the framework of the Georgian constitution. This is very important to
prove that this demand is not only will of the public organizations
but also that of Javakhk’s Armenians.
But unfortunately the process was stopped. The Georgian authorities
are against this and there are people among us who wanted to stop this
process. I think that the process of collecting signatures should
be organized at a high level and then the Georgian authorities will
accept this reality.
[Correspondent] What if the said demand is not met after the collection
of signatures?
[Rstakyan] I do not think it will be refused. But if this happens,
we will organize an action of “civil disobedience” and form local
authorities by ourselves. What else can we do? It is similar to the
steps of rising social and economic problems, but this is different,
we are not claiming golden mountains for Javakhk. We only want the
right to live in this land. We do not want happiness at the expense
of somebody’s tragedy as the Georgian authorities are describing this.
[Correspondent] Do you not feel certain discomfort that the demand
of Javakhk’s Armenians was raised several days after the Tskhinvali
events? Do you not think that this claim might be seen as one part
of the programme directed at disrupting the situation in Georgia?
[Rstakyan] I do not know what happened in Tskhinvali.
[Correspondent] Really?
[Rstakyan] Our statement has nothing to do with the Abkhaz or Ossetian
problems.
[Passage omitted: background details]
Georgian Armenians inspired by Karabakh’s example
[Correspondent] Do they understand in Javakhk that Georgia is the only
way to the West for Armenia? On the whole, how do they treat Karabakh?
[Rstakyan] Naturally we are inspired by what is taking place in
Karabakh today.
[Correspondent] Does it mean that you want the same to take place
in Javakhk?
[Rstakyan] It depends on the Georgian authorities. If the Georgian
authorities did not pursue this policy, our reaction would be
different. All our steps are defensive. There is no attack or an
aggressive step from our side. As for Georgia being the only way to
the West for Armenia, do you think that Georgians can do everything?
The Georgian authorities want to solve their problems with Javakhk
after which the situation will be worse for Armenia. You know that
Georgians do not want the Kars-Gyumri railway and want to build a new
railway via Javakhk (Kars-Akhalkalaki) which will completely blockade
Armenia. But we do not ask them why is it so, although they do not
have the right to close the way of its neighbour.
[Correspondent] What is the role of the Armenian authorities in
maintaining stability in Javakhk?
[Rstakyan] Not only the Armenian authorities but all the Armenians
are involved in this since we are one part of the Armenian nation.
Armenia should make the Georgian authorities and the authorities of
other countries understand that an outflow of Armenians from the region
is under way. But I cannot say that this is part of a specific plan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress