Georgian Authorities Commit Demographic Terrorism In Javakhk

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES COMMIT DEMOGRAPHIC TERRORISM IN JAVAKHK

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.02.2009 11:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Javakhk benevolent organization, Mitq analytical
center and Yerkir Union have issued a joint statement on occasion of
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze’s visit to Yerevan.

The statement says that the ongoing arrests of Armenian activists
in Javakhk, grave violations of human rights in the trial of Vahagn
Chakhalyan and his family members, obstacles the Georgian checkpoint
officers pose at the Armenian-Georgian border leads to drift of the
population away from the region.

"The policy pursued by the Georgian authorities is nothing but
demographic terrorism, which aims at assimilation of Georgian
Armenians, neutralization of Armenian public organizations and
establishment of full control over the region," it says.

"The Armenian leadership should urge Georgia:

-to put an end to repressions and criminal prosecution of Javakheti
Armenians and to release Vahagn Chakhalyan, Grigor Minasyan, Sargis
Hakobjanyan and Grisha Avagyan.

-to allow to use the Armenian language in public life and
administrative bodies of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka regions -to
establish an Armenian-Georgian university in Akhalkalaki to prevent
migration of young people -to officially register the Armenian
Apostolic Church and return appropriated Armenian churches.

Respect for the right of Armenians is the only way to maintain lasting
and sustainable development of the Armenian-Georgian relations,"
the statement says.