POLITICAL ANALYST FORSEES NEGATIVE IMPACT ON JAVAKHK FROM GEORGIAN CIS PULLOUT
Kristine Aghalaryan

vrcyan/
2009/08/18 | 14:47

Region Politics

According to Haykazoun Alvrtsyan, Director of the Research Center
for Western-Armenian Affairs, one can expect no serious changes in
Armenian-Georgian relations due to Georgia’s formal exit from the CIS.

At a press conference today, Mr. Alvrtsyan stated, "We simply lost a
border with the CIS which, in essence, we really never had previously
anyway. Neither did the railway work nor the overland route from
Ossetia. Only the sea route was operable."

He went on to say that, "Georgia gradually sees that it has lost
its erstwhile importance for the West and the United States. It is
clear that Georgia will not become a member of NATO for a long time
to come. It is also clear that Abkhazia and South Ossetia will not
be returned to Georgia. Reviewing its options and projects based on
its one-time favorable status, Georgia is now looking to cement more
creative relations with Armenia, both economically and in terms of
communications, since Iran is now looking at Armenia with interest
regarding future communications potential, both in terms of the
railway and as a market."

Mr. Alvrtsyan also said that the Georgian move had a negative impact on
Javakhk since Georgian-Russian diplomatic relations have been severed,
the routes to Russia for seasonal employment have been closed to
Javakhk Armenians. In a word, serious socio-economic problems have
arisen in Javakhk.

He added that the Armenians of Javakhk have high expectations of
Armenia and that without Yerevan’s moral, educational, cultural and
economic assistance it will be difficult to hold on to this important
historic Armenian province.

"This is what is important and our authorities do not see the reality
or wish to see it. Since independence, Armenia has had no overall
policy towards Javakhk," Mr. Alvrtsyan concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress