Torosyan: Georgian Armenians hope for Sarkisyan's help

Armenians of Dzhavakh express hope that after the visit of President of Armenia to Georgia, the problems of this region will find their settlement. This was stated to journalists by Shirak Torosyan, Chairman of the "Dzhavakh" Community Union and Deputy of the National Assembly from the ruling Republican Party, in his comments on the one-day visit of Serzh Sarkisyan to Georgia.

As he said, the main problems in need of solving in Dzhavakh (Armenian name for the Georgian district of Samtskhe-Dzavakhetiya, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") are as follows: putting end and eradication of national and language discrimination; granting regional status to the Armenian language; increase of the powers of bodies of local government of Dzhavakh; prohibition of steps towards changing the demographic situation in the region; termination of "Georgization" of cultural and historical monuments and state protection thereof; involvement of the region into humanitarian and financial programmes; realization of business programmes and state investments; granting privileges to residents of Dzhavakh in issues of land and real estate alienation.

Mr Torosyan has drawn attention to the fact that during Saakasvili's presidency the discrimination policy against Armenians of Dzhavakh became still tougher. As he said, should Georgian authorities fail to resolve the above problems, which, meanwhile, are stipulated by the European Convention on National Minorities, "then, they shouldn't blame anybody for activation of the efforts directed towards independence and autonomy of Dzhavakh."

As to the point on who will suffer more from Dzhavakh's struggle for independence, Shirak Torosyan has assured that Georgia will be the loser: "Another problem will be raised for Georgia. Georgians have already lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia; there are riots in Mengreliya, obvious feeble efforts in Azeri-populated areas, and suddenly - a separatist movement in Dzhavakh. It will be the end of Georgia."