THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS EVACUATED FROM GEORGIA

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Tuesday , 12 August 2008
Turkey

Hundreds of Armenians vacationing in Georgia’s Black Sea resort towns
of Batumi and Kobuleti are being evacuated back to Armenia, RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service has reported.

In Batumi, some 1,200 Armenian vacationers have left because of the
fighting between Russian and Georgian forces and have returned to their
homes in Armenia. An RFE/RL correspondent in Armenia’s northwestern
Shirak region, which borders Georgia, said hundreds of vehicles were
lined up waiting to cross into Armenia.

The Armenian consul-general in Batumi, Hakob Haji Hakobian, told
RFE/RL that the evacuation will continue, as many Armenians fear
Russian warplanes could bomb Batumi — the largest Georgian seaport —
as they have Poti and other Georgian cities.

Batumi and Kobuleti have in recent years become one of the most
popular destinations for Armenian holidaymakers.

On August 9, Russian planes bombed another Georgian seaport, Poti,
causing havoc among the civilian population fleeing the town.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry warned its citizens the same day not
to travel to Georgia. There are still an estimated 3,500 Armenian
citizens in Georgia that it plans to evacuate to Armenia.

The ministry also said that 850 foreigners, including diplomats
stationed in Georgia and their family members, were also evacuated
to Armenia. It said 130 Americans and 180 Poles have fled to Armenia
and some 130 Italians are expected to arrive in Armenia on August 10.