EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION OPENS OFFICE IN GEORGIA

Asbarez
May 13th, 2010
TBILISI

The European Armenian Federation for Democracy and Justice hosted
a reception Wednesday at the Marriot Courtyard hotel to officially
mark the opening of a chapter in Georgia.

Present at the reception were representatives of Georgian government,
the US Embassy in Tbilisi, the Diocese of Georgia, Armenian and as well
as other non-governmental organizations. The guests were introduced
to the EAFDJ Georgia chapter Executive Director Gevork Harutunian.

EAFDJ chairwoman Hilda Tchoboian stressed the importance of pursuing
issues related to human rights, minority concerns and other matters
of interest to the Georgian-Armenian communities.

"Georgia is part of the ‘European Neighborhood Policy’ and ‘Eastern
Partnerships’ programs. As such, it provides organizations such as
ours the opportunity to assist the government in addressing various
issues, and to conform to European standards," explained Tchoboian.

The newly-appointed executive director said that one of the main
focal points for the EAFDJ chapter will be to assess the needs of
the Georgian-Armenian communities, adding that work has already
begun to address some of the immediate concerns. Within this realm,
the chapter will focus on Javakhk.

"We are going to study the situation of Javakhk Armenians, as well
as official Georgian policies and what they are going to do in Javakhk.

But we are not going to limit ourselves to Javakhk. We will assess
the situation, after which we will take concrete steps and positions,"
explained Harutunian.

Welcoming remarks were made by representatives of other national
minorities in Georgia.