ARMENIAN CHURCH CALLS REGION CHRISTIANS TO BE AGAINST BAKU-TBILISI-GARS RAILWAY PROJECT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 2 2007

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian had several meetings with
new leaders of Ajaristan and Samskhe-Javakhetia, Armenian community
and representatives of Armenian Church in the framework his visit
to Georgia.

Ceremony was held in Surp Khach church in Akhalkalak with the
participation of the representatives of local Armenian community on
July 31 after Armenian Foreign Minister’s visit to the region.

Armenian Apostolic Church eparchy’s archimandrite to Georgia
Babken Salbyan stated in the ceremony that geopolitical condition
in the region gives no opportunity for Armenians to establish their
independent subject in Georgia.

"Any measures to be taken in this direction will complicate the
condition, therefore we need at least 10-15 years. Armenian community
should preserve its solidity and should convince official Tbilisi
in the unpromising of the construction of Gars-Akhalkalak railway,"
he said.

Monk Samvel Torosyan addressing the event proposed all Christians
living in Georgia to be against Gars-Akhalkalak project and called
to take necessary measures for it.