GEORGIA CAN RECEIVE CHURCHES IN LORI AND JAVAKHETI IN EXCHANGE FOR NORASHEN?

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.12.2008 15:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia pursues a specific ethno-religious policy
as regards the Armenian cultural heritage, an Armenian expert said.

"In response to demands to return the Armenian churches in Georgia to
the AAC, the Georgian side sets unreasonable conditions. The latest
statement by Giorgi Andriadze, the head of the Christian Democratic
Movement of Georgia, that the Armenian churches in Lori belong to the
Georgian Orthodox Church, looks as preparation for a bargain," Vahe
Sargsyan, expert at Mitq analytical center, told a news conference
today.

The Christian Democratic Movement of Georgia held a rally in front of
the Armenian on December 11 to demand ‘return’ of Georgian churches
in Armenia.

"A dozen of Georgian monasteries are situated in the territory of
Armenia, in Lore-Tashir. Unfortunately, they have been robbed, what
proves that they belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church," said Giorgi
Andriadze. "The Georgian Patriarchate did not deliberately raise
the issue to avoid tensions and maintain the status quo. However,
the Armenian side aggravates contradictions. So, we can nothing but
demand return of our churches."

"Rumors circulate that Norashen and a number of other churches in
the Georgian territory will be returned to the AAC. In exchange,
Georgia can receive some churches in Lori and Javakheti. Georgia lays
claims to churches in Lori because of Georgian murals on their walls,"
Sargsyan said.

He also informed that representatives of the GOC and ACC met
recently in the Georgian Patriarchate and requested the Georgian
Ministry of Culture to study the situation with Norashen and take
action to determine its status. "Participation of the Armenian side
in this process is shameful since it casts doubts to belonging of
our churches," he said, adding that the initiative was nevertheless
welcomed by the Armenian Prime Minister.