TBILISI FEAR-MONGERING IN JAVAKHK, SAYS MANOYAN

ARF Press Service
Tuesday February 24, 2009

YEREVAN (ARF Press Service)–Georgia’s central authorities are
actively fear mongering in Akhaltskha and Akhalkalak regions of
Javakhk, announced ARF Political Director Giro Manoyan during a press
briefing Tuesday.

"Nevertheless, Armenia has no right to interfere in Georgia’s domestic
affairs, as it will be a violation of the republic’s commitments to
the Council of Europe," Manoyan told the news conference.

"On the other hand, Georgia spares no effort to evict the Armenian
population whose only wish is to live peacefully in its native land,"
he added, reminding reporters that late Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan had called for the establishment of an Armenian consulate
in Javakhk, but that proposal was rejected by Georgian authorities.

On another front, Manoyan said that ongoing negotiations between
Armenia and Turkey is not reducing the likelihood of official
U.S. recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide.

"Opening the border and establishing diplomatic relations alone
would not prevent the genocide’s recognition because Armenia is not
committing itself to renouncing the process of genocide recognition,"
said Manoyan.

"Turkey should assume responsibility for the crime against humanity
committed by the Ottoman Empire," Manoyan said.

"It is necessary to press on and keep the Armenian Genocide question
on the agenda. Turkish high ranking officials are distorting the
facts in an effort to create the image that Armenia does not have a
%u218Genocide Problem,’" added Manoyan

He said the recognition of the Genocide has strategic and national
security implications and is a stated Armenian foreign policy priority.

Manoyan added that the prospects for the resumption of diplomatic
relations between Turkey and Armenia have begun to worry Azerbaijan,
which, in turn has initiated its own diplomatic campaign against
Armenia.