ARMENIAN FM: CONSTRUCTION OF KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY UNPROMISING POLITICAL STEP

arminfo
2007-07-30 13:27:00

"The Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, which is populated
mainly with Armenians, is in the focus of attention of the Armenian
Government. We are cooperating with Georgian authorities to improve
the social-economic situation of local Armenians. For this purpose,
I need a first hand view of the situation in the region and meeting
with local population because I have never been here before," Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in front of the Holy Cross
Church in the town of Akhalkalaki.

Javakhq-info reports during his visit to the region, the Minister
Oskanyan visited also the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church and met Armenian community representatives. He promised to
submit the Armenian Government an offer to make Armenian the state
language in the region. As regards the compulsory knowledge of the
Georgian language, the minister proposed the local Armenians to
require some 10-15 years from the Georgian Government to master the
language and study the Georgian culture. The minister did not comment
on the issues regarding the establishment of the Armenian-Georgian
University and dislocation of a Georgian military base in the place
of the Russian one in the region. As regards the construction of
Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, the minister called it a wrong political
step and a useless investment. "One could achieve the same goal
spending less and exploiting the railway existing in the territory
of Armenia. This step is an unpromising policy," Vardan Oskanyan said.

The minister also touched upon the social-economic situation in the
region, which, in his opinion, needs more targeted investing. He said
the problem is on the agenda of Armenia and Georgia. We have progress,
he minister said.