ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS MERE SHOW, JAVAKHK ACTIVIST SAYS

news.am
March 17 2010
Armenia

"Although Armenian and Georgia claim to be friendly nations, their
relations are much of a show," the Chairman of the Javakhk compatriotic
union, member of the RA Parliament Shirak Torosyan told reporters on
March 17.

According to him, Armenians residing in Georgia have numerous problems,
the urgent ones being the Armenian language, status of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, putting an end to acts of persecution against
Javakhk activists and free transportation of people and cargoes
through the checkpoints.

He pointed out that, along with the Georgian authorities’ "ostrich
policy," the Javakhk Armenians are now raising the issue of autonomy.

"One fine day Javakhk will turn into either waning Nakhchevan or
eruptive Nagorno-Karabakh," Torosyan said.

As regards the reopening of the Upper Lars checkpoint, he said that it
is chiefly Georgia that benefits. "Don’t think Georgia is generous to
‘fraternal’ Armenia. The reopening of Upper Lars is to our advantage,
though," he said.