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HOW TO EMPTY JAVAKHETI OF ARMENIANS
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 27 2007
The Javakheti Armenians realize that Kars-Akhalkalaki will improve
their quality of life but since this railroad harms the interests of
Armenia, the Armenians of Javakheti do not want this way of improving
their lives, stated the leader of the Javakheti Union of Fellow
Countrymen, Member of Parliament Shirak Torosyan on November 27 at
the Pastark club. "Here is a paradox. When a group of Armenian,
Georgian and Azerbaijani reporters visited Javakheti, they were
embarrassed by this paradox. It is favorable for them but they don't
want it. I think only the Armenians of Javakheti could display such
a paradoxical attitude," says Shirak Torosyan with an unhidden shade
of pride on his face and in his voice.
But isn't it the consequence of this paradoxical mentality why the
problems of Javakheti are not solved, when the Armenians of Javakheti
think about the interest of Armenia but do not get an adequate reaction
of the Armenian government because the Armenian government is always
beside the Georgian government? "It is a very sensitive issue,"
Shirak Torosyan says. He says he does not think that the Armenian
government is indifferent toward the problems of Javakheti and does
not support the Armenians of Javakheti. Shirak Torosyan made a bold
statement saying that there is a lot to do, and Armenia should use
Javakheti. "And it should use it for the sake of improvement of the
social and economic situation of the people of Javakheti. What do I
mean when I say use? I mean that the existence of the Armenians of
Javakheti, their problems should get a resolution for the Armenians
of Javakheti not to put forward political claims. Sometimes claims of
self-determination are made. Why? Because there are problems which
cannot be solved but are solved. The solution is visible but it
is not solved. And the people of Javakheti say give us sovereignty
for us to solve our problems. Now in order to avoid tensions, for
Georgia to avoid an ethnic conflict, another claim for sovereignty,
another Abkhazia, New Ossetia, no, it is not necessary for Georgia
to solve social and economic problems for Javakheti Armenians and
improve their lives. Now everything is normal. In this situation
Armenia should spur the Georgian government to solve the social and
economic problems of the Javakheti Armenians, otherwise the Armenians
of Javakheti will claim sovereignty," Shirak Torosyan says.
The reporters say Kars-Akhalkalaki could help solve these problems but
the Armenians of Javakheti do not want. "We say but we do not prevent
solution," Shirak Torosyan says. According to him, the Armenians of
Javakheti fear that the construction of the railroad will spur trade,
security and maintenance specialists will be needed, a great number
of Turks may come to Javakheti, Shirak Torosyan says, adding that it
also causes worry for the development of economic relations may lead
to integration, assimilation, change of demography.
What should be done in this case if the alternative to development is
deadlock? Shirak Torosyan says otherwise Armenia runs into a deadlock,
and the problem for the Armenians of Javakheti is to strengthen the
homeland, therefore the Armenians of Javakheti leave Javakheti and
come to Armenia. The head of the Union of Compatriots says people
leave Javakheti because as soon as they grow up, they have nothing
to do there.
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 27 2007
The Javakheti Armenians realize that Kars-Akhalkalaki will improve
their quality of life but since this railroad harms the interests of
Armenia, the Armenians of Javakheti do not want this way of improving
their lives, stated the leader of the Javakheti Union of Fellow
Countrymen, Member of Parliament Shirak Torosyan on November 27 at
the Pastark club. "Here is a paradox. When a group of Armenian,
Georgian and Azerbaijani reporters visited Javakheti, they were
embarrassed by this paradox. It is favorable for them but they don't
want it. I think only the Armenians of Javakheti could display such
a paradoxical attitude," says Shirak Torosyan with an unhidden shade
of pride on his face and in his voice.
But isn't it the consequence of this paradoxical mentality why the
problems of Javakheti are not solved, when the Armenians of Javakheti
think about the interest of Armenia but do not get an adequate reaction
of the Armenian government because the Armenian government is always
beside the Georgian government? "It is a very sensitive issue,"
Shirak Torosyan says. He says he does not think that the Armenian
government is indifferent toward the problems of Javakheti and does
not support the Armenians of Javakheti. Shirak Torosyan made a bold
statement saying that there is a lot to do, and Armenia should use
Javakheti. "And it should use it for the sake of improvement of the
social and economic situation of the people of Javakheti. What do I
mean when I say use? I mean that the existence of the Armenians of
Javakheti, their problems should get a resolution for the Armenians
of Javakheti not to put forward political claims. Sometimes claims of
self-determination are made. Why? Because there are problems which
cannot be solved but are solved. The solution is visible but it
is not solved. And the people of Javakheti say give us sovereignty
for us to solve our problems. Now in order to avoid tensions, for
Georgia to avoid an ethnic conflict, another claim for sovereignty,
another Abkhazia, New Ossetia, no, it is not necessary for Georgia
to solve social and economic problems for Javakheti Armenians and
improve their lives. Now everything is normal. In this situation
Armenia should spur the Georgian government to solve the social and
economic problems of the Javakheti Armenians, otherwise the Armenians
of Javakheti will claim sovereignty," Shirak Torosyan says.
The reporters say Kars-Akhalkalaki could help solve these problems but
the Armenians of Javakheti do not want. "We say but we do not prevent
solution," Shirak Torosyan says. According to him, the Armenians of
Javakheti fear that the construction of the railroad will spur trade,
security and maintenance specialists will be needed, a great number
of Turks may come to Javakheti, Shirak Torosyan says, adding that it
also causes worry for the development of economic relations may lead
to integration, assimilation, change of demography.
What should be done in this case if the alternative to development is
deadlock? Shirak Torosyan says otherwise Armenia runs into a deadlock,
and the problem for the Armenians of Javakheti is to strengthen the
homeland, therefore the Armenians of Javakheti leave Javakheti and
come to Armenia. The head of the Union of Compatriots says people
leave Javakheti because as soon as they grow up, they have nothing
to do there.