Javakhk – a time bomb

PanARMENIAN.Net - Anxiety of the Javakhketis is understandable – if Georgia becomes a NATO member, a military base will be installed in Javakhk and, no doubt, will be staffed by Turkish troops. This means that Armenian population will be forced to emigrate from their historic homeland in large numbers, or secede from Georgia, i.e. start another local war, because Georgia, having lost a considerable part of its territory, will hang by its eyelids to Javakhk. In this case Tbilisi will receive assistance from Baku and Ankara, and it will clearly be difficult for Javakheti Armenians to rely on Russia. Under these circumstances Armenia is a bad ally due to the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Currently Yerevan is simply unable to provide armed or other assistance to Javakheti. Moreover, if the situation develops by this scenario, Armenia will certainly lose contact with the outside world, and there will only be one land route via Iran. So, Yerevan just cannot afford to get involved in another conflict for safety reasons, although Javakhetis blame the Armenian authorities for their indifference to their troubles. However, this does not mean that people of the region should not be supported. Support is essential in any case. The policy of official Tbilisi in this respect leaves much to be desired - the current president continues the tradition of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, who proclaimed “Georgia for Georgians”. It is possible that the constitution of Georgia be amended, and like Turkey, everyone without exception be recorded as Georgians, for… no nation, no problems.

Meanwhile, Tbilisi, already accustomed to see in all of her troubles the “hand of Kremlin”, directly accuses Russia of “speculation” on the situation in the Armenian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. According to Tbilisi, there is no threat of formation of an independent state in this region, and certain forces in Russia are behind such statements, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said.“Last week, representatives of the so-called "Javakhk Diaspora in Russia" released a statement via media, saying that a “Javakh state” may appear on the territory of Georgia if ​​the country joins NATO. It is obvious that certain forces in Russia are behind this provocative statement,” the Deputy Minister said, as reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta. She noted that “Georgia maintains good relations with Armenia and all issues are resolved at the international level and in a friendly atmosphere.” “We have good relations not only with Armenia, but also with ethnic Armenians living in Georgia, and in this respect we do not see a real problem,” Kalandadze said.

But the Deputy Minister is being insincere. It is actually the other way round – there is no self-government, no freedom, no work. There is only the changing demographic image of the region affected not only by Georgians, but also by the Turks. Hence, it is already several years a Turkish university has been operating in Akhaltsikhe, and a number of Turkish companies are investing in the region’s economy. However, the same thing is also happening in Ajaria and throughout Georgia. Georgia is gradually becoming a Turkish province, which, however, does not seem to worry Mikhail Saakashvili. But these are the internal affairs of another state, and Armenia does not wish to interfere in them. And even if she interferes, it is because the rights of indigenous Armenian population have been violated. Georgia has long been “famous” for her unpredictable policy towards neighboring states...

According to coordinator of the Council of Armenian Organizations (NGOs) of Samtskhe-Javakheti (Javakhk) Artak Gabrielyan, Javakhk does not raise the question of solving the problems through conflict with the Georgian authorities. According to him, this is due to the geopolitical position of Armenia and the challenges the country is facing. “Armenians have always supported the Georgian state; the latest example of this was the behavior of the Armenian community in Georgia during the August war of 2008. They did not make use of the terrible plight Georgia was in and did not demand improvement of their position. Javakheti has to become a bridge of friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia, and now it is only a factor,” Gabrielyan said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Brad Sherman of California called for allocation of financial assistance to the Armenian community residing in Javakheti. Sherman noted that the Georgian government supported the idea of ​​helping Javakheti, and stressed that those efforts would contribute to the achievement of the U.S. strategic objectives in the Caucasus.