THE ARMENIAN MEMBER OF THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT VAN BAIBURT CALLED FANTASTIC THE STATEMENTS THAT TURKISH SERVICEMEN WILL REPLACE THE RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN JAVAKHK, GEORGIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006
YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. The Armenian member of the Georgian Parliament
Van Baiburt called fantastic the statements that Turkish servicemen
will replace the Russian military bases in Javakhk, Georgia.
“First, the Georgian state has its own interests. Secondly, Georgian
borders on Armenia, considers and respects its interests,” Baiburt
told ARKA.
According to him, Georgia’s economic cooperation with Turkey is not
a ground for such conclusions.
“I am sure that time will come when Turkey establishes excellent
relations with Armenia,” Baiburt said. He added that the problem of
the Armenian Genocide, which is a most important component of national
consciousness, must not be ignored.
According to him, the rumors about Turkish servicemen’s arrival in
the region were spread by those interested in the Russian military
base in Javakhk.
“If Russia did not want to leave the region, it should not have signed
the documents of the Istanbul Summit and got involved in eight-round
negotiations,” Baiburt said.
“Russia should not have called on the local Armenians to support
its presence. Why should Georgia consider Armenians to be the ‘fifth
column’ in the country?” he asked.