Ex-Ambassador of Georgia: we don't want Armenian churches

PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks whistle blowing website released February 26, 2010 cables on a meeting with a former Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia Georgy Tabatadze addressed by ex-Ambassador of U.S. to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch to U.S. Department of State.

Yovanovitch cites Tabatadze’s statement referring to a conflict between the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox Churches over Armenian churches located in Georgia.

“We don't want the churches. Everyone knows they are Armenian churches.” Tabatadze said. “Yet it would only be fair to the Georgians to receive other churches in return. He specifically pointed out non-operating “Georgian” churches in northern Armenia currently on the state registry with the Government of Armenia. Tabatadze noted that while there are no ethnic Georgians in that area who would use the churches, it is the principle of reciprocity that matters. “In future, Georgian Orthodox church could establish monasteries there,” Tabatadze said, according to the cables.

Earlier, however, Georgian historians refused to recognize the presence of Armenian churches on the territory of Georgia.