GEORGIAN NATIONAL AND CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT DEMANDS TO RETURN GEORGIAN CHURCHES IN ARMENIA

Trend
Dec 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 12/ TrendNews, N.Kirtzkhalia/ On Dec. 11
activists of the National and Christian Movement assembled in front
of the Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi and submitted a special appeal to
Armenian diplomats.

The appeal says: "Armenian brothers, don’t give way to
provocation. About ten considerable churches and cloisters
are located in Lorri-Tashir territory of the modern northern
Armenia. Unfortunately, at present they are in breakdown. Historical
sources and architecture of memorials testify their belonging
to the Georgian orthodox church, but not the Armenian Gregorian
church. Otherwise, you should agree that they would be took care in
an appropriate way.

Within this period, the Georgia orthodox church deliberately has not
raised an issue to transfer these churches not to worsen a situation
and preserves existing status quo.

Unfortunately, definite groups from Armenia permanently seek
escalation of tension and unilaterally demand to return Georgian
churches. Fortunately, so far they could not get support of our
Armenian brothers. However, as such a demand is going on, we should
remind authors of this provocation of legal and logical demands of
Georgian orthodox authorities to return Georgian churches in Armenia.

I think, it is a provocation of the third force, targeting to create
conflict between two neighbor nations."

Georgi Andriadze, the leader of the National and Christian Movement,
also condemned an incident in Leselidze St. a while ago, when several
Armenians broke open one of locks of disputable churches and stormed
into a church.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress