In a recent interview published in the Georgian newspaper "Rao-Rao," advisor to Georgian president Saakashvilli Georgi Gachechiladze–leveled serious charges against the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. In the March 14 publication–Gachechiladze alledged that according to records of a closed session of a Russian Security Service meeting–released to him in 1991 by former Georgian president Georgian Zviad Gamsakhurdia–then Russian President Yeltsin’s "national security advisor" A. Mihranian [who never held that title] told that session–"It is imperative to direct the energy of people of the North Caucusus to work against Georgia."
Gachechiladze expounded–telling the paper that the approach is a classic doctrine of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–which envisions Georgia’s collapse by way of the North Caucasus–for the creation of a "Greater Armenia" that expands toward the Black Sea and Abkhazia.
Asked how Georgia would react if internal political forces sought to seceded from Georgia–Gachechiladze pointed to Javakhk Armenia’s–saying that it was exactly for that reason that they were slaughtered and subsequently driven from Turkey. "Coaxed by Tsarist Russia–those Armenia’s were ultimately betrayed; some found haven in Georgia. I don’t think that they would blindly assume that role–once again–under the influence of Russia."
Responding to Gachechiladze’s remarks–the Armenian Revolutionary Federation released the following statement:
1. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation has never sought and does not seek "Georgia’s destruction through North Caucasus." The ARF is pursuing the protection of the rights of the Armenia’s of Javakhk within Georgia. Statemen’s such as those made by the Georgian president’s advisor may only foment disturbance in the Caucasus.
2. On the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide–the Georgian president’s advisor insults the memory of the Genocide victims–accusing them of becoming a blind tool in the hands of others. Actually–he is repeating the official position of Turkey–the perpetrator of the Genocide. Such a reprehensible stance of the Georgian president’s advisor is incompatible to the high office he holds.
3. The Georgian presidential advisor’s threats directed at the Javakhk Armenia’s are basis to suspect that the attempts to initiate disruption in Javakhk are aimed at justifying those very threats. The Georgian presidential advisor’s intimidating tone is unbecoming of a state that claims to be a champion of democracy; it resembles the style of dictators speaking to their subjects in tyrannies.
4. The level of the Georgian presidential advisor’s ignorance may be low enough to call a Yeltsin aide an ARF member–but it should not be as low as to overlook the real problems in Javakhk.
5. The ARF is ready to assist the Georgian authorities in protecting the political and civil rights of the Javakhk Armenia’s as well as resolving their socio-economic problems if the Georgian authorities take such steps. Continuing the discriminatory policies of the Georgian authorities towards the Javakhk Armenia’s can not result in favorable consequences for Georgia.