ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS IN GEORGIA, SAYS ANALYST

Tert
Oct 26 2009
Armenia

The process of rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia should be
considered as a regional issue since it can cause problems in the
Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, senior fellow at the Foundation
for Strategic and International Studies in Georgia, Professor Vladimir
Papava said, reports Azerbaijani news agency Trend News.

"I do not think that rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is
in the interests of the region. After rapprochement between Turkey
and Armenia, Georgia will have no argument against the return of
Turks-Meskhetians [and their repatriation] will create new ethnic
problems in the region. But, in fact, Armenians living in those
territories [Samtskhe-Javakheti] oppose and are afraid of the Turks’
return," Papava told Trend News.

The law on repatriation of internally displaced people to Georgia came
into force in early January. According to the Ministry of Refugees
and Resettlement, bids for return are made by people willing to
be repatriated.

The Repatriation Law was approved at request of the Council of Europe.

Primarily, it concerns Turks-Meskhetians internally displaced from
South Georgia in 1944 by Stalin’s regime. Now Turks-Meskhetians live
mainly in Russia and Azerbaijan. Many of them intend to return to
their historical homeland.

According to Papava, if Armenia feels that the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue will be resolved in its favor, some forces in the country will
provoke the conflict in Samtskhe-Javakheti too. This process should
be considered as a regional process but not as Georgian internal one.

Certainly, Javakheti’s issue should be considered both in the context
of Turkish-Armenian rerapprochement and return of Turks-Meskhetians
in the territory where the Armenians live now, he said.

"At present, Georgia is in a very difficult position. The Armenians
living in Georgia significantly oppose return of Turks-Meskhetians
to this region," Papava said.

If Turkey and Armenia fully approach, the Armenian community living
in Javakheti, must not oppose return of Turks-Meskhetians. However,
the situation is different. It can cause ethnic problems in the region,
said the analyst.

"However, on the other hand, the status quo in the Caucasus could
not be maintained for a long time. Conflicts in the region must be
solved," Papava said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress