FIRST FORUM OF SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS ADOPTED RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net - Integration with Georgia but not assimilation - that was the slogan, under which the First Forum of the Public Organizations of Samtskhe-Javakhetia was held in Akhalkalak on December 11, A-info reports. The forum initiators note that speaking for real integration of the region with Georgia they are against the policy of assimilation pursued by the Georgian leadership. Due to the outcomes of the discussions the participants adopted a resolution, which says that the forum aimed at integration with Georgia via social and economic reforms. The resolution stresses the availability of numerous social, economic and political problems in the region such as mass unemployment, immigration, inequality due to ethnical affiliation while admitting to work, poor communications with Tbilisi, Armenia and seaside regions of Georgia as well as the policy of artificial demographic changes pursued by the authorities. The forum participants are also concerned over the fact that some mass media stir up hostility and intolerance between the nations. First of all, they said, communications should be restored, working places created, energy problems solved and the Akhalkalaki airport reconstructed. They decided on formation of a corresponding working group for elaborating a complex program of the region development and appealed to the Georgian government and Armenian public organizations for assistance. To note, out of all the officials invited only the OSCE representatives and the European Center for Minority Issues attended the conference. The Armenian deputies of the Georgian parliament preferred participation in the congress of an Armenian party held in Yerevan to participation in the forum. The Armenian Ambassador to Georgia was also absent.