Ex-Armenian premier: Aggravation of relations with Georgia may lead
to deportation of Javakh Armenians

Regnum, Russia
Oct 20 2006

"Requests of some Russian politicians, who persuade Armenia to
aggravate its relations with Georgia are inexpedient;" head of
National-Democratic Union, ex-Armenian premier Vazgen Manukyan is
quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as stating to a news conference on
October 19.

According to him, Armenia does not have access to sea; Azerbaijan and
Turkey have blocked its borders; its Iranian border is unstable, too,
because of complicated Iranian-US relations. In this connection,
Manukyan believes it to be inexpedient to request from Armenia
to aggravate its relations with Georgia. Moreover, aggravation
of relations with the country may lead to oppressions against or
deportation of Armenians of Javakh (Armenian-populated Georgian
region – REGNUM). Complications of Javakh Armenians’ situation are
already evident now, he mentioned. "Situation around knifing and
arrests, happened in Javakh is absolutely incomprehensible for me,"
he stated, adding that such question was to be discussed more detailed
by politicians on October 19.

Speaking about Russian-Georgian relations, the ex-Armenian premier
stressed that even during armed conflict Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
were not so tensed as current Russian-Georgian relations are now. Such
situation is consequence of unresolved Abkhazian and Ossetian issues,
Manukyan believes. "Armenian relation to the abovementioned issues
should be adequate one, i.e. if we say that the NKR has right on
self-determination, we may strip neither Abkhazia nor Ossetia of the
right," he stated. At the same time, Vazgen Manukyan stressed that
every conflict is to be settled individually; if Abkhazia agrees to
join Georgia on principle of confederation or federation, Armenia
may only welcome it. "Pendency of the abovementioned conflicts is
unfavorable for Armenia, too, because it contributes to its blockade;
as for pressure towards ethnic minorities, carried out in Russia,
it concerns both Georgians and Armenians," he concluded.