ATTACK AGAINST ARMENIANS IN TSALKA RESULT OF INCORRECT ETHNIC POLICY OF GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2006 19:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 11 thousands took part in a protest rally
in Akhalkalaki against murder of Gevorg Gevorgyan, 23, in Tsalka
town. Participants of the rally in the administrative center of
Georgian Samtskhe-Javakheti region, mostly populated by Armenians,
censured the murder and noted it is a direct outcome of incorrect
ethnic policy of Georgian authorities. Those present adopted a
statement addressed to Georgian authorities, Armenians living in that
country and the international community, urging the authorities to
stop policy of pressure upon Armenians.

“Analyzing latest occurrences in Georgian regions populated by
Armenians, specifically provocative actions in Tsalka on March 9
and being concerned over security of the Armenian population and
sustaining stability, we urge Georgian authorities to stop settling
regions populated by Armenians with other ethnic groups, which results
in tension, solve problems in Javakheti by means of democratic tools,
ensure actual security for local Armenians, review law on state
language, for Armenian to be a state language in Samtskhe-Javakheti
equal to Georgian,” the statement says.

At that authors urge all peoples living in Georgia to “recognize
that inter-ethnic tension does not fit anyone’s interests.” They also
urge Europe and the international community not to let democracy and
human rights be defied in Georgia. According to A-Info agency, after
the meeting a number of young persons headed for the regional court
building in Akhalkalaki and the branch of Tbilisi State University
(TSU). This was due to the dismissal of ethnic Armenian judges and the
TSU not admitting Armenian students. In the words of representative of
the Union of Armenian NGOs Khachatur Stepanyan, the youth procession
was not planned by the organizers of the rally and had nothing to do
with them.