By recognizing Circassian genocide Georgia aims to antagonize RussiaMay 23, 2011 - 14:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - By recognizing 19th century mass killings of the Circassians as genocide, Georgia aimed at “antagonizing Russia”, MP Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament, State Duma, said. “I regret that the politicians in Georgia failed to withstand a temptation to materialize their own nationalistic complexes at the expense of other nations,” Kosachev told Interfax Russian news agency on May 20. The Georgian lawmakers do not at all care about “really tragic fate of the Circassian people,” he said. “By doing so they were pursuing their political goals aimed at maximally antagonizing Russia and portraying it [Russia] as a source of all the troubles of the Georgian and other peoples, who were residing in the Russian Empire and later in the Soviet Union,” Kosachev said. The Georgian Parliament voted to recognize the 19th-century killings and deportations of ethnic Circassians by czarist Russia as genocide. The statement passed on a vote of 95 to 0. Only one lawmaker spoke against it in debate, arguing that the resolution risked offending Georgia’s ethnic Armenians, who have never won Georgia’s support for the recognition of Genocide against Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |