THEY PASSED A LAW FOR ARMENIANS TO BREAK IT
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 2 2006
The social and economic problems of Javakheti are the consequence of a
political problem, the solution of which may lead to the settlement of
the social economic problem, stated Vahagn Chakhalyan in an intervew
with the Lragir.
Lragir: There are different opinions whether the problem of Javakheti
is political or social and economic. What do you think the problem is?
"We have been stating since 2004 that the problem of Javakheti is
a political problem, and now it is becoming clear that the problem
of Javakheti is political, the social and economic problem is
secondary, in other words, the social and economic problem stemmed
from the political problem. For instance, the stone working factories
in Javakheti employing 3000-5000 people were closed down. These
factories were closed down artificially, though the stones are
demanded in Russia, but the stone working factories were closed down
in 1996-1997. The same is with timber. They bar transporting timber
via Javakheti, allowing only via Marneuli, which is also a political
problem. Or now they are making a new law on transporting the goods
imported from Armenia to Javakheti via Sadakhlo, which is another
political problem. Or the closed-down shops. On October 5, 2005 10
big shops were closed down in Javakheti and the events followed that
we know."
Lragir: Is it possible to solve the political problem by solving the
social and economic problem? Or should the problem be political by
all means?
"Political solution."
Lragir: And in your opinion, what political solution is required?
"The Georgian government should admit at last that Javakheti is the
historical homeland of the Armenians, the Armenians have always lived
there and they must remain there with their culture, language and
their rights. Until they admit… They must admit."
Lragir: If your alliance, as you say, with its real 70 percent votes
appeared in the regional sakrebulo of Javakheti, would you raise the
question of sovereignty of Javakheti?
"We did not think about it but about cultural sovereignty… This would
be our first problem. In fact, now their law bars work. According
to the law on the local election, if you don’t speak Georgian, you
cannot work in these bodies. In fact, they adopted a controversial
law. On the one hand, Armenians were elected, but these Armenians
do not speak Georgian, how they are going to work. They are going to
violate the law. They passed a law for the Armenians to break the law."
Lragir: You are against stationing a Georgian military base in
Javakheti. What is your attitude towards the Russian military base?
"The withdrawal of the Russian military base, frankly speaking, this
problem is beyond us. We said our word during the protest meeting
on March 13, 2005 but we saw that the decision was made. But we are
against replacing the Russian military base by any other force. We
are against it."
Lragir: In other words, either the Russian base or nothing?
"No, it’s not a matter of either or, and now we can see that it
is being withdrawn. Today, however, we think no military presense
or presence of other forces is needed in Javakheti. It is clear,
however, that they will use the Kars-Akhalkalaki project to try to
station joint Turkish and Azerbaijani forces here."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
