KOCHARIAN URGES ARMENIANS IN GEORGIA TO LEARN GEORGIAN
ARMENPRESS
Apr 30 2007
YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian urged ethnic
Armenians in the southern Georgian province of Samtskhe-Javakheti
to learn the Georgian language, which he said is essential for their
integration into the Georgian society.
In response to a question during a last week meeting with students
and faculty of the Yerevan State University about how Armenia can
help ethnic Armenians in Georgia to retain their national identity
after 2010, when the majority of subjects at local Armenian schools
must be taught in Georgian, Kocharian cited the example of the strong
and prospering Armenian community of France saying none of them would
have achieved success without mastering the French language.
"Armenians in this region of Georgia should think about learning
Georgian instead of how they could replace it with Armenian. Without
the knowledge of Georgian Armenians in Georgia will not be able to
seek senior and high government position and can not run successful
businesses," Kocharian said.
Kocharian said Armenians have always played a role in Georgia, but
now when Georgia is an independent country, Armenians can not achieve
success without being able to speak Georgian.
In a related news prime minister Serzh Sarkisian described Georgia as
‘a very important country for Armenia."
In an interview with an influential Russian newspaper-Nezavisimaya
Gazeta (Independent Newspaper) Sarkisian said Georgia is the only
country that provides Armenia with a road to other countries and
the bulk of goods Armenia receives through Georgia and any negative
development in Georgia is fraught with serious aftereffects for
Armenia.
"Armenia is certainly interested in boosting its relations with
Georgia. I suppose that it is our future. If Georgia has decided to
join NATO, Armenia respects that decision and is hopeful that it will
not affect Armenia’s security and Armenian-Georgian relationships,"
he said.