AKHALKALAK, Georgia (A-Info)–A coalition of Armenian organizations working in Javakhk issued an announcement Friday calling for expanded authority for local governing bodies in the region, as well as declaring Armenian an official language in Javakhk along with Georgian, among other points.
Prompted by the recent developmen’s as well as an increase to divert the Armenian population’s focus from the critical issues at hand for Javakhk residents, the organizations issued the joint announcement to clarify any confusion about the aspirations of the Armenian community in Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia.
The announcement is directed to the Georgian authorities, which, the organizations said, have not addressed the main concerns and thus continue to inflame and frustrate the community.
Among the other points outlined as critical in the announcement were:
The protection of minority rights; Ending the policy of deliberately altering demographic figures in different regions by the Georgian authorities; Ending the policy of intentionally thwarting the multi-faceted relations between Javakhk and Armenia; Halting the illegal persecution of Armenian activists in Samtskhe-Javakheti; Removing artificial obstacles instituted at the Georgian-Armenian border in Javakhk; Optimizing the state educational program to include Armenian education; Organizing and sponsoring Armenian cultural and educational programs in the region; And Passing legislation that enhances trade and humanitarian assistance policies in Javakhk
The group asserted that implementation of the above provisions would benefit Armenia-Georgia relations and will go a long way in affirming Armenian-Georgian friendship and cooperation.