Attack against Armenians in Tsalka Result of Incorrect Ethnic Policy of Georgian Authorities

[Harold F. Schiffman]

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 From: PanARMENIAN.Net
URL: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=16826
Date: 13.03.2006 13:49 GMT+04:00


Attack against Armenians in Tsalka Result of Incorrect Ethnic Policy of
Georgian Authorities

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 11 thousands took part in a protest rally in
Akhalkalaki against murder of Gevorg Gevorgyan, 23, in Tsalka town.
Participants of the rally in the administrative center of Georgian
Samtskhe-Javakheti region, mostly populated by Armenians, censured the
murder and noted it is a direct outcome of incorrect ethnic policy of
Georgian authorities. Those present adopted a statement addressed to
Georgian authorities, Armenians living in that country and the
international community, urging the authorities to stop policy of pressure
upon Armenians.

Analyzing latest occurrences in Georgian regions populated by Armenians,
specifically provocative actions in Tsalka on March 9 and being concerned
over security of the Armenian population and sustaining stability, we urge
Georgian authorities to stop settling regions populated by Armenians with
other ethnic groups, which results in tension, solve problems in Javakheti
by means of democratic tools, ensure actual security for local Armenians,
review law on state language, for Armenian to be a state language in
Samtskhe-Javakheti equal to Georgian, the statement says.

At that authors urge all peoples living in Georgia to recognize that
inter-ethnic tension does not fit anyone's interests. They also urge
Europe and the international community not to let democracy and human
rights be defied in Georgia. According to A-Info agency, after the meeting
a number of young persons headed for the regional court building in
Akhalkalaki and the branch of Tbilisi State University (TSU). This was due
to the dismissal of ethnic Armenian judges and the TSU not admitting
Armenian students. In the words of representative of the Union of Armenian
NGOs Khachatur Stepanyan, the youth procession was not planned by the
organizers of the rally and had nothing to do with them.

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http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/print/?nid=16826