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GEORGIA SHOULD BITE THE BULLET
Editorial, 14 May 2014
What do Ashugh Jivani, Stepan Malkhasyants, Hovhannes Kachaznouni,
Terenig Demirjian, Vahan Derian, Cardinal Krikor Aghajanian, and
Lucine Zakaryan have in common?
They were all born in Javakhk.
Javakhk became part of Great Armenia in 8th century B.C., under King
Argishti I of Urartu. Armenia lost the region in 428 A.D. Thus the
region was part of Armenia for more than 1,200 years. In the Middle
Ages it was occupied by, among others, Arabs and the Ottoman Turks.
When Russia conquered it in the late 1820s, the majority of the
population was Armenian. Due to the slaughter of Armenians by the
Turks (1827-28), more Armeniansâ?"mostly from Erzerum--settled
in Javakhk. Despite the Treaty of Sevres, in 1921 Javakhk became
part of Georgia. But no matter who ruled, the population remained
overwhelmingly Armenian.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), Javakhk, for a brief
period, became a de facto semi-independent entity. But in November
of that year Tbilisi took over and began a virulent policy of
"Georgianization". Rather than integrate ethnic groups, Tbilisi tried
to assimilate them. Georgia forced the Georgian language on Armenians,
public administration forcibly became Georgian, it shut Armenian
churches, isolated the impoverished subsistence farmers (potato and
livestock) by neglecting the repair of primitive roads. Javakhk has
the highest unemployment rate and the least amount of investment in
Georgia. Infrastructure is non-existent. There is no industry.
Although Javakhk is only three hours away from Tbilisi, it's like
the other side of the moon for Georgians.
The Kars-Javakhk-Tbilisi-Baku Railway, which bypassed Armenia, is a
sore point for Javakhk Armenians, just like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum natural gas pipeline. In recent
years a Turkish university has been established in Akhlakalak--a city
where 90% of the population is Armenian. Turkey has also proposed to
Tbilisi to allow Mskhetian Turks to settle in Javakhk.
The above have made Javakhk Armenians more than nervous about their
future. Some have demanded autonomy and several leaders were imprisoned
by the government of Saakashvili. They were released last year when
the erratic leader was replaced.
Despite Tbilisi's depredations, Yerevan has been silent. According
to Armenia authorities, the Javakhk conflict is an internal Georgian
matter. The lone support for Javakhk Armenians has come from the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and its Red Cross social
assistance branch.
One doesn't have to be a political, military, and economic strategist
to know why Armenia's response has been muted. Blockaded in the east
and the west by Turkbeijan ("Two states, one nation" according to
the Turkic partners) and with a weak link to Iran which itself is
struggling with Western sanctions, Georgia is Armenia's only bridge to
Russia and to the sea. It's no big logical leap to conclude Tbilisi is
pressing Javakhk Armenians because boxed-in Armenia is in no position
to interfere.
"Georgia for Georgians" policy continues. Javakhk Armenians believe
"Georgianization" could become "Nakhichevanization" as Tbilisi puts
on the screws to encourage Armenians to emigrate.
A decade ago there was a popular euphemism in the Western business
community. Rather than dismiss an employee and perhaps bear the
financial consequences of that decision, managers would make working
conditions so difficult that employees would quit on their own. The
ploy's euphemism was tagged "constructive dismissal". It seems Tbilisi
is doing something similar. By economically isolating Javakhk, by
changing language rights, by allowing increased Turkbeijan presence
in Javakhk, Georgia is encouraging Armenians to migrate, usually to
Russia. Every Javakhk family has family members in Russia. Due to
emigration, the percentage of Armenians in the region has shrunk.
Recent developments in Crimea's and Eastern Ukraine have become of
major concern to Georgia. Tbilisi is worried Javakhk Armenians might
imitate Crimians and ask Russia to take over their region. A few weeks
ago there was a rumor that Javakhk Armenians were rushing to obtain
Russian passports. But Javakhk Armenians have said they have no desire
to become part of Russia. They merely want to be an autonomous region.
Recently Melik Raisian, a former member of the ruling Georgian Dream
political party, said: "We are Georgian citizens. Why do we always
have to prove we're not separatists for wanting our rights?"
But the warning to Tbilisi is implicit: if Armenians are not granted
autonomy, they could follow the Crimean example. Such a decision
would be welcomed by Russia: Javakhk isn't too far from Russian
South Ossetia.
Georgia is eager to join NATO. If it is admitted, Javakhk Armenians
fear NATO will establish a military base there, probably staffed by
Turks. Some Javakhk Armenian leaders have said if Georgia joins NATO,
Armenians will declare independence.
If Georgian authorities are serious about retaining the integrity of
their country, they should allow Javakhk become an autonomous region.
The alternative is too dismal for Georgia to contemplate.
http://keghart.com/Editorial-Georgia-Javakh
Editorial, 14 May 2014
What do Ashugh Jivani, Stepan Malkhasyants, Hovhannes Kachaznouni,
Terenig Demirjian, Vahan Derian, Cardinal Krikor Aghajanian, and
Lucine Zakaryan have in common?
They were all born in Javakhk.
Javakhk became part of Great Armenia in 8th century B.C., under King
Argishti I of Urartu. Armenia lost the region in 428 A.D. Thus the
region was part of Armenia for more than 1,200 years. In the Middle
Ages it was occupied by, among others, Arabs and the Ottoman Turks.
When Russia conquered it in the late 1820s, the majority of the
population was Armenian. Due to the slaughter of Armenians by the
Turks (1827-28), more Armeniansâ?"mostly from Erzerum--settled
in Javakhk. Despite the Treaty of Sevres, in 1921 Javakhk became
part of Georgia. But no matter who ruled, the population remained
overwhelmingly Armenian.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), Javakhk, for a brief
period, became a de facto semi-independent entity. But in November
of that year Tbilisi took over and began a virulent policy of
"Georgianization". Rather than integrate ethnic groups, Tbilisi tried
to assimilate them. Georgia forced the Georgian language on Armenians,
public administration forcibly became Georgian, it shut Armenian
churches, isolated the impoverished subsistence farmers (potato and
livestock) by neglecting the repair of primitive roads. Javakhk has
the highest unemployment rate and the least amount of investment in
Georgia. Infrastructure is non-existent. There is no industry.
Although Javakhk is only three hours away from Tbilisi, it's like
the other side of the moon for Georgians.
The Kars-Javakhk-Tbilisi-Baku Railway, which bypassed Armenia, is a
sore point for Javakhk Armenians, just like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum natural gas pipeline. In recent
years a Turkish university has been established in Akhlakalak--a city
where 90% of the population is Armenian. Turkey has also proposed to
Tbilisi to allow Mskhetian Turks to settle in Javakhk.
The above have made Javakhk Armenians more than nervous about their
future. Some have demanded autonomy and several leaders were imprisoned
by the government of Saakashvili. They were released last year when
the erratic leader was replaced.
Despite Tbilisi's depredations, Yerevan has been silent. According
to Armenia authorities, the Javakhk conflict is an internal Georgian
matter. The lone support for Javakhk Armenians has come from the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and its Red Cross social
assistance branch.
One doesn't have to be a political, military, and economic strategist
to know why Armenia's response has been muted. Blockaded in the east
and the west by Turkbeijan ("Two states, one nation" according to
the Turkic partners) and with a weak link to Iran which itself is
struggling with Western sanctions, Georgia is Armenia's only bridge to
Russia and to the sea. It's no big logical leap to conclude Tbilisi is
pressing Javakhk Armenians because boxed-in Armenia is in no position
to interfere.
"Georgia for Georgians" policy continues. Javakhk Armenians believe
"Georgianization" could become "Nakhichevanization" as Tbilisi puts
on the screws to encourage Armenians to emigrate.
A decade ago there was a popular euphemism in the Western business
community. Rather than dismiss an employee and perhaps bear the
financial consequences of that decision, managers would make working
conditions so difficult that employees would quit on their own. The
ploy's euphemism was tagged "constructive dismissal". It seems Tbilisi
is doing something similar. By economically isolating Javakhk, by
changing language rights, by allowing increased Turkbeijan presence
in Javakhk, Georgia is encouraging Armenians to migrate, usually to
Russia. Every Javakhk family has family members in Russia. Due to
emigration, the percentage of Armenians in the region has shrunk.
Recent developments in Crimea's and Eastern Ukraine have become of
major concern to Georgia. Tbilisi is worried Javakhk Armenians might
imitate Crimians and ask Russia to take over their region. A few weeks
ago there was a rumor that Javakhk Armenians were rushing to obtain
Russian passports. But Javakhk Armenians have said they have no desire
to become part of Russia. They merely want to be an autonomous region.
Recently Melik Raisian, a former member of the ruling Georgian Dream
political party, said: "We are Georgian citizens. Why do we always
have to prove we're not separatists for wanting our rights?"
But the warning to Tbilisi is implicit: if Armenians are not granted
autonomy, they could follow the Crimean example. Such a decision
would be welcomed by Russia: Javakhk isn't too far from Russian
South Ossetia.
Georgia is eager to join NATO. If it is admitted, Javakhk Armenians
fear NATO will establish a military base there, probably staffed by
Turks. Some Javakhk Armenian leaders have said if Georgia joins NATO,
Armenians will declare independence.
If Georgian authorities are serious about retaining the integrity of
their country, they should allow Javakhk become an autonomous region.
The alternative is too dismal for Georgia to contemplate.
http://keghart.com/Editorial-Georgia-Javakh