JAVAKHK COMPATRIOTIC UNION CALLS FOR NOT AGGRAVATING SITUATION IN JAVAKHK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 15 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The situation in
Javakhk should not be aggravated, constructive works should be done
for the Armenian and Georgian authorities to find a common denominator
as a result of discussions of some issues. Shirak Torosian, Chairman
of the Javakhk compatriotic union, made such a statement at the June
14 press conference.

According to him, the governments of Armenia and Georgia
should together determine the ways of solution of problems of
Javakhk for Javakhk "not to become a factor in the hands of
some forces." Sh.Torosian also said that they should not run to
extremes: today we should secure raising of the level of Javakhk’s
self-government and giving its powers to independently solve some
problems, for a budget of its own to be formed, within the framework
of which it will be possible to solve some cultural, financial and
technical problems. "If in the future the Republic of Georgia by its
Constitution makes a decision to change the administrative-territorial
structure and to have the structure of a federal state, it will
be right if Javakhk also has a status of autonomy," the speaker
emphasized.

In connection with withdrawing the Russian military base from the
territory of Georgia Shirak Torosian expressed anxiety that this
will deprive residents of Javakhk of hundreds of jobs. Besides, the
population feels itself safer with the Russian military base being
in Georgia.

According to Sh.Torosian, now the main administrative-civil bodies are
moved to Akhaltska, so, they are moved away from the Javakhk population
and power structures are brought to Javakhk. "Two power structures have
been created in Javakhk lately, one is the gendarmerie, the other the
military police. A question emerges: if there are no Georgian military
units in Javakhk, why is a military police created?" the Speaker
emphasized at the same time expressing an opinion that by means of
this the Georgians wish to destabilize the situation in Javakhk in
order "to appropriate Javakhk in the political and military respect."

As for the Kars-Akhalkalak railway, according to Sh.Torosian, the
Armenians of Javakhk are against its construction as this is not in
the interests of Armenia.

Shirak Torosian gave assurance that it will be possible to smooth over
Armenian-Georgian contradictions within the framework of bilateral
negotiations and discussions, as a result of mutually beneficial
cooperation between the two states.