GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES CHANGING TOPONYMY OF JAVAKHK

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.12.2009 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Significant changes in the toponymy of Dzhavakhk are
taking place: names of mountains, rivers and geographical locations
are completely changed. For instance, the mountain Tavshanka is now
called Amiranis, Vahe Sargsyan, expert of the Mitq analytical center
told a press conference in Yerevan today. Toponymy is also changed
by partial edition of names, that is, adding "I" at the end of the
original name, like the river Parvana is now called "Paravani".

"Even such adjectives as "great" or "small" translated into Georgian.

For example, Small Samsar, is now called "Didi Samsari"," Mr. Sargsyan
said.

Vahe Sargsyan noted that the Georgian authorities are violating the
Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities, ratified by the Georgian Parliament in 2005. According
to the Convention in areas traditionally inhabited by national
minorities it is necessary to ensure usage and application of
traditional place names.

Vahe Sargsyan stressed the Armenians of Javakheti perceive the local
place names as Armenian and do not accept the changes.