REFUTES NEWS OF RALLIES AND PLANS TO ESTABLISH AUTONOMY
AKHALKALAK (AInfo)–The Council of Representatives of the Armenian NGOs of the Samtskhe-Javakhk and Kvemo Kartli regions of Georgia welcomed the resignation of Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze–and said the action averted the possibility of bloodshed in the country.
Convinced that constitutional order and democratic values would be established in Georgia–the council urged the Armenian population of Georgia to show restraint and vigilance. The new government–it said–would work to solve the socio-economic–cultural–and political problems of Javakhk Armenia’s–and all the other ethnic minorities.
The local Armenian radio station "Impulse" reported that a transition to autonomy within a constitutional framework has started in Akhalkalak,–following the resignation of the local administration appointed by Shevardnadze–and that mass rallies are being held.
The Armenian Council–however–refuted the information reported by "Impulse" radio–declaring that the situation is stable and no rallies are taking place.
Referring to reports on steps to establish Javakhk’s autonomy–the Council points to attempts by certain forces to aggravate the situation in the region–in order to retain posts or take on positions of power.
In fact–states the Council–these are the same forces that have consistently been critical of autonomy; their goal–however–is to frighten Tbilisi officials in order to retain their posts.
