|
Georgian MPs: Clashes in Armenian-Populated Areas Not "interethnic"
July 07, 2005 18:12:44
Georgian MPs say clashes in Armenian-populated areas not of "interethnic" nature
Arminfo 7 Jul 05
YEREVAN
A delegation of Georgian parliamentarians of Armenian origin today arrived in Yerevan on a working visit at the invitation of Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan.
Commenting on the socioeconomic situation in the Armenian-populated districts of Georgia as well as frequent clashes [between Georgians and Armenians], a member of the Georgian parliament, Van Bayburtyan, told our Arminfo correspondent : "All clashes which occur in various districts of Georgia, including in the Armenian-populated districts, have an exclusively common nature and are not a result of interethnic strife."
[Passage omitted on specific incident in Tsalka District]
Bayburtyan said that the Armenian media have been exaggerating and incorrectly describing the situation in Georgia and the Armenian-populated districts of this country. "All these have a negative impact on the Armenian-Georgian relations, especially given that there are many people wishing to aggravate relations between the two countries," he said.
A member of the Georgian parliament from Akhalkalaki District, Gamlet Movsisyan, also said that there was no need to see the said clashes in the Armenian-populated districts of Georgia as a serious problem and worsen the relations between Armenia and Georgia. "Clashes also occur in other Georgian districts and in Armenia itself, but this does not mean that they should certainly be of interethnic nature," he pointed out.
As for the socioeconomic situation in the Armenian-populated districts of Georgia, Movsisyan said that a programme on the socioeconomic development of these districts were being elaborated. He also pointed out that not only the government of Georgia, but also of Armenia should take part in the implementation of this programme. The MP said that a meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries were expected in the near future, during which this programme will be discussed in detail.
As for the possible deterioration of the situation in Georgia's Akhalkalaki District after the withdrawal of the Russian military bases, Movsisyan thinks that the leadership of Georgia will keep its promise and create new jobs for the residents of the district who used to work at the Russian military bases.
|
|
| Discuss news in forum » |

|
 |
Related Articles
|
 |
Send this article to a friend
|
 |
|
|
|