MINISTER VASHADZE IS READY TO TAKE EVERYONE TO GEORGIA

A1+
[07:09 pm] 20 February, 2009

On February 20 Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received
his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze. Along with other issues
of bilateral interest, the interlocutors referred to the problems of
Georgian Armenians.

"Javakhi Armenians encounter no problems in Georgia but socio-economic
one," says the Georgian FM.

With regard to the arrest of Armenian public activists residing in
Georgia, Mr. Vashadze said, "They are not imprisoned for their descent
but for the crime they committed. All their rights are reserved."

For his part, Minister Nalbandian noted that before Mr. Vashadze’s
arrival in Yerevan the Armenian government had applied to the Georgian
government to address the issue of Georgian Armenians. "The case is
under investigation, and the answers will be given after a thorough
inquiry into the subject matter."

Today Armenian reporters were displeased with the Georgian official’s
statement on the fate of 300 000 Armenians living in Georgia.

To make himself more convincing, Mr. Vashadze made a "constructive"
proposal in Russian, "I am ready to buy a ticket to Georgia and show
you the Georgian territory. After the August Russian-Georgian conflict
Georgia has appeared in a plight. Today the first and foremost issue
for us the integration of Javakhi Armenians in Georgia’s home life
as quickly as the Georgian government and Armenian people want.

Note that today’s press conference started with a 1.5 hours’ delay,
and the Foreign Ministers didn’t manage to answer all questions. The
FMs announced that they have drawn a conclusion that all issues
existing between the two countries can be settled with joint efforts.