SHIRAK TOROSYAN: "TURKISH MILITARY CONTINGENT CAN BE DISPLACED TO AKHALKALAK"

Today, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006

"The withdrawal of the Russian military base from Akhalkalak has a
psychological motive for the Armenians of the region," Shirak Torosyan,
head of "Javakhk" Public Association.

As APA reports, besides the loss of 4000 work places Armenians feel
unprotected. "The Russian military were the guarantors of security
and stability. The matter is who will replace them. If NATO troops
come Armenians fear it will be a Turkish contingent," Torosyan said.

When commenting on the supposed repatriation of Akhiska Turks to
Akhalkalak, Georgia, Torosian remarked this step is targeted at
infringement of the right of Armenian inhabitants. Akhiska Turks used
to live in the villages of the Aspindz and Akhaltsikh regions. These
villages were long ago settled by Georgians and it would be pointless
to exile them. There are large uninhabited territories in Georgia
and the repatriates should settle down there.

The "Javakhk" leader said the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway
is the result of the Georgian-Turkish relations.

"The project promises work places and consequently the way out of the
deadlock. However we are against the construction of this railway,
since it conflicts with the interests of Armenia," he underscored.

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