"CONSTRUCTION OF KARS-AKHALKALAK RAILWAY CAN CREATE UNFAVOURABLE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE IN REGION," VARDAN OSKANIAN BELIEVES
Author: Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 3 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. "The government of Armenia attentively
follows the problems of the Georgian Armenians and always contributes
to the settlement of those problems by different programs." This
statement was made by Vardan Oskanian, the RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs, in his interview with "Hajrenik" (Homeland) newspaper of the
"Javakhk" Compatriotic-Benevolent Union.

He mentioned that 46 schools have been completely repaired at the
expense of the RA budget, in particular, during the past six years.

Property of 30 million drams is given to the Armenian schools of
Georgia every year, and it is envisaged to launch the restoration
program of cultural centres in Javakhk in 2008.

Touching upon the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak railway, Vardan
Oskanian mentioned that it cannot cause a great economic danger to
Armenia like "the famous oil-pipeline and gas-pipeline", however,
it can create an unfavourable atmosphere in terms of politics. "It is
obvious that the decision on the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak
railway was made by political motivations: on the instigation of
Azerbaijan and Turkey," the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

In response to the question of what an inhabitant of Javakhk should
do for the preservation of his mother tongue and Armenian education
under the circumstances of being obliged to learn Georgian, Vardan
Oskanian mentioned that it is necessary to display a complex and
careful approach with regard to the problems of educational sphere and
linguistic-cultural ones of national minorities. According to him,
the discharge of international legal commitments assumed by Georgia
should be emphasized in this sphere and the activities in respect
of minorities should be undertaken in conformity with the spirit of
those commitments.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress