Georgia carries out a systematic policy of wiping out Armenians from Javakhk

PanARMENIAN.Net - On July 18, 2008 there was an explosion by the house of Akhalkalaki Chief of Police in the regional center of Akhalkalaki, mostly inhabited with Armenians. In the evening several policemen, as well as about 40-50 strangers in civilian clothes, all armed, burst into the house of United Javakhk democratic alliance member Gurgen Shirinyan under pretence of detention in connection with the explosion, and searched the house. During the unauthorized search, under mysterious conditions was killed policeman Arthur Berujanyan, Armenian by birth. On July 20 Georgian Special Forces encircled a rundown building in Akhalkalaki, where, as they claimed, Shirinyan was hiding. In the course of the operation another Armenian policeman was killed. Day and night the office of United Javakhk democratic alliance is under police control. On July 21 at 4:00 a.m. the Emergency Platoon broke into the house of a United Javakhk leader Vahagn Chakhalyan, searched the house and arrested him and his family members. Hours later Chakhalyan, his father and underage brother were transferred to the regional center of Samtskhe-Javakheti-Akhaltsikhe, after which they were all removed to Tbilisi, their detention term prolonged for another 2 months. Immediately following Chakhalyan's detention, another 6 members of "United Javakhk" were detained, who were set free after inquiry was held.

Though various Armenian experts and journalists claim that the occurrences in Javakhk are provocation, the systematic policy of wiping out an aboriginal nation, which finds itself to be a minority, cannot be treated as provocation. However strange it may be, no one paid much attention to Saakashvili's statement in Kars, saying "Azerbaijan is the guarantor of Georgia's independence." Presently they are the mainstream of both foreign and home policy of Georgia, which, in fact, has never really been independent, like Azerbaijan… If the Georgian President were more sincere, he was to have mentioned that Turkey and the USA were guarantors of Georgia. However, the funds for the transit of the Caspian oil made Saakashvili say what he said. Tbilisi cannot but understand that Azerbaijan and Turkey have implemented a policy of destructing and excluding Armenians if not from the region, then, at least, from the enclaves and places of dense habitation.

The railway project Kars-Tbilisi-Baku, which is already most often referred to as Baku-Ankara railway, had its say in the aggravation of situation too. Actually, Armenia was made to realize that she has to change her attitude towards other countries of the region, otherwise she will lead herself into a deadlock and be completely isolated. In a word, Armenia is suggested to become a second Georgia -controlled, weak and torn apart by antagonism. Moreover, Armenia may simply be crossed off the map. Not by chance President of Turkey Abdullah Gul mentions only Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan among countries of the region. Iran and Armenia are not even made mention of.

"Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project (BTK) is open to all the countries in the Caucasus," declared Gul at the ceremony of inauguration of the Turkish section construction of the railway. In his words "The project will not only unite Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, but will also bring together Asia and Europe." "The project is of great economic importance to the region and to other countries involved in the project. In spite of doubts on the part of 'some countries' about expediency of BTK, a range of Asian states, including Kazakhstan, are interested in the implementation of the project. And Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev confirmed it," announced Gul at the ceremony.

The Turkish President also voiced satisfaction that along with Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia attached great importance to the project too. "Should the countries have political ambitions, a plenty of projects can be implemented, such as Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipe, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipe and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which we are already putting into practice. I am sure the project will be a success, since all the three countries apply great efforts. The project unites not simply two countries but the entire Caucasus region, which proves independence of these countries," Gul said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.

In all probability the conflict in Javakhk will be settled, but there is no guarantee that Armenians in Javakhk will share the fate of Nakhichevan or the lowlands of Nagorno-Karabakh. If the railway is opened by 2011, which does not raise a slightest doubt, the future of Javakhk looks vague for Armenians. Finally Georgia will have to carry out the EC resolutions on resettlement of Turk-Meskhetins, who will definitely be moved to Samtskhe-Javakheti, in spite of the fact that Armenian MPs of Georgian Parliament strongly refute the fact. However, no one really listens to them in Tbilisi, and especially in Javakhk or Yerevan…