Editor Chosed a strange pick?
Nana Bukhsianidze
Editor's Pick: Armenian Enclave In Georgia Faces Extinction
August 26, 1999
Armenian-Populated Region In Limbo
By Emil Danielyan
In the heart of Javakhetia, a region of southwestern Georgia where ethnic
Armenians are the majority, there is no language but Armenian heard on the
streets.
There are few signs that this is a Georgian territory and, to the eyes of a
casual visitor, the place looks depressing and deceptively dormant.
But Javakhetia's position on Georgia's border with Turkey and Armenia gives
the region strategic importance. And that makes it a tempting target in what
many analysts believe is a new "Big Game" between Russia and the West in
which both sides are competing for influence in the post-Soviet South
Caucasus.
The area known as Javakhetia includes four regions. Ethnic Armenians are
concentrated in two of them, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, where they make up
over 95 percent of the population. The Tbilisi government's influence on the
state of affairs there is fairly limited.
Akhalkalaki still hosts a Russian military base, one of the two remaining in
Georgia. In a town with a virtually non-existent economy, it is the main
employer. The locals are strongly opposed to a possible withdrawal of the
Russian troops, something which runs counter to Tbilisi's policy of seeking
close ties with NATO and the West.
But some of the troops did pull out last year, raising the question of who
would occupy their empty barracks. The Georgian government has agreed to
turn the barracks into a hospital under pressure from local Armenians
unwilling to see Georgian army units stationed in Akhalkalaki.
Local government officials now say that Tbilisi has assured them that it
will not deploy Georgian troops in the area in the foreseeable future.
Soothing Javakhetian Armenians, they say, was a key purpose of a recent
meeting between Armenia's and Georgia's defense ministers. Georgian military
presence is now confined to patrolling the Javakhetia section of the Turkish
border.
In terms of culture and education, the region's ethnic Armenian population
is strongly linked to Armenia. Few of those living in the Akhalkalaki and
Ninotsminda raions speak Georgian, and schooling is in Armenian. Even the
textbooks are exactly the ones used in Armenia. Local youths entering
university normally choose Yerevan rather than Tbilisi. That's where
Javakhetian Armenians have made careers for decades. They constitute a
considerable part of Armenia's military elite and are also known for their
strong mathematical skills. Perhaps this is the reason why any street trader
in Akhalkalaki easily re-calculates prices in all four currencies
circulating there: the U.S. dollar, Russian ruble, Georgian lari, and
Armenian dram.
"People are out of work here." This remark by an elderly man selling soft
drinks at a bus station sums up the economic situation in the region. Apart
from the Russian base and trade, the locals live off farming and money
transfers from relatives working in Russia. Three hours of electricity a day
is not an incentive to launch a business. Meager pensions and public
salaries have not been paid for over six months.
Except for Chevron gasoline stations, little suggests that Akhalkalaki has
seen a transition to a market economy. Streets have hardly been paved since
the collapse of the Soviet Union. The misery and absence of prospects makes
many people feel forsaken by the central government. As Levon Gabrielian,
head of the Akhalkalaki district assembly representing President Eduard
Shevardnadze's party puts it, Tbilisi does not have an "objective approach"
to the region.
More radical local leaders speak about covert discrimination. Nationalists,
who until now have operated under an umbrella group called Javakhk, have
recently formed a more radical party called Virk (the medieval Armenian name
for Georgia.)
The Georgian Justice Ministry refuses to register the party citing its
"regional" character." But one of Virk's leaders, David Restakian, says
Tbilisi wants to bar the party from participating in parliamentary elections
next October.
Restakian says that "we are more dangerous for them than Javakhk because we
want to obey their rules of the game." He adds that one in ten Georgian
citizens is an [ethnic] Armenian and "yet we have no senior officials in
Tbilisi."
Virk's stated aim is a "federal" Georgia in which Javakhetia would be a
separate entity. The nationalists, who are pro-Russian and anti-Turkish, are
against possible passage through the region of a pipeline carrying
Azerbaijani oil to the Turkish Mediterranean coast. They are clearly the
force upon which Russia will rely to keep its presence in the region.
As the legislative polls near, Georgian parties will increasingly compete to
win the sympathy of Javakhetian Armenians who previously voted for
Shevardnadze's Union of Citizens of Georgia. Pictures of Aslan Abashidze,
the autocratic ruler of the Adjar Autonomous Republic, can already be seen
in Akhalkalaki. The accompanying posters of his newly formed electoral bloc
urge the ouster of the Shevardnadze administration "which has no future."
The Adjar strongman has not been subordinate to Tbilisi in the last several
years and relies on Russian troops to preserve Adjaria's quasi-independence.
He recently proposed to include Javakhetia in his Black Sea republic which
reportedly enjoys the highest living standards in the country.
However, both the Armenian moderates and nationalists are highly mistrustful
of Abashidze and pointing to his alleged ties to Turkey. But whether their
warnings will outweigh his economic track record in the eyes of Javakhetia's
impoverished population only will be clear in October.
Copyright (c) 1999 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio
FreeEurope/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Nana Bukhsianidze
Nana Bukhsianidze <gr...@nh.ultranet.com> wrote in message
news:7q3al9$ka6$1...@autumn.news.rcn.net...
Using the same article it is easy to prove that actually Georgia's stathood
and culture is is in Limbo in Javakhetia and not Armenian enclave.
"Editor's Pick: Armenian Enclave In Georgia Faces Extinction
"In the heart of Javakhetia, a region of southwestern Georgia where ethnic
Armenians are the majority, there is no language but Armenian heard on the
streets. "
The very first sentence shows that the title is too loud.
It becomes even better in the second sentence:
"There are few signs that this is a Georgian territory and, to the eyes of a
casual visitor, the place looks depressing and deceptively dormant."
Well... the place looks dormant since it doesn't look as Georgia's
territory? Or because generally situation in a country ( Georgia) is very
harsh?
"But Javakhetia's position on Georgia's border with Turkey and Armenia gives
the region strategic importance. And that makes it a tempting target in what
many analysts believe is a new "Big Game" between Russia and the West in
which both sides are competing for influence in the post-Soviet South
Caucasus."
Political situation definitely is not dormant.
>
> Akhalkalaki still hosts a Russian military base, one of the two remaining
in
> Georgia. In a town with a virtually non-existent economy, it is the main
> employer. The locals are strongly opposed to a possible withdrawal of the
> Russian troops, something which runs counter to Tbilisi's policy of
seeking
> close ties with NATO and the West.
Armenains who overpopulated Europe and USA is for some strange reason
against the ties with West. Or against Georgia's ties with the West....
The reason is Turkey and not the West, let's face it.
>
>
> In terms of culture and education, the region's ethnic Armenian population
> is strongly linked to Armenia. Few of those living in the Akhalkalaki and
> Ninotsminda raions speak Georgian, and schooling is in Armenian. Even the
> textbooks are exactly the ones used in Armenia. Local youths entering
> university normally choose Yerevan rather than Tbilisi. That's where
> Javakhetian Armenians have made careers for decades. They constitute a
> considerable part of Armenia's military elite and are also known for their
> strong mathematical skills.
I am glad about mathematical skills but the above paragraph is a frightening
picture depicting the total absence of elligiance toward Georgia's state and
Georgian culture among Armenians who live in Georgia's historical land and
if I am not mistaken most of them were adopted by Georgia after the
Armenians' Genocide in Turkey.
>Perhaps this is the reason why any street trader
> in Akhalkalaki easily re-calculates prices in all four currencies
> circulating there: the U.S. dollar, Russian ruble, Georgian lari, and
> Armenian dram.
This doesn't show that someone knows Agebra or Topology but rather shows
the famous skills of Armenian people in trade.
>
> "People are out of work here." This remark by an elderly man selling soft
> drinks at a bus station sums up the economic situation in the region.
Apart
> from the Russian base and trade, the locals live off farming and money
> transfers from relatives working in Russia. Three hours of electricity a
day
> is not an incentive to launch a business. Meager pensions and public
> salaries have not been paid for over six months.
>
> Except for Chevron gasoline stations, little suggests that Akhalkalaki has
> seen a transition to a market economy.
And guys! I bet Chevron gasoline stations do indicate the presence of
Western ties and Azerbaijanian oil. :-)))
>Streets have hardly been paved since
> the collapse of the Soviet Union. The misery and absence of prospects
makes
> many people feel forsaken by the central government.
Same in other regions of Georgia... newly paved streets????
>As Levon Gabrielian,
> head of the Akhalkalaki district assembly representing President Eduard
> Shevardnadze's party puts it, Tbilisi does not have an "objective
approach"
> to the region.
Becuase it is very difficult to handle Armenians living togather and
preffering to be part of Armenia's statehood and not Georgia's.
Shevardnadze chosed the best solution:pretends that he doesn't see the
problem.
>
> More radical local leaders speak about covert discrimination.
I guess 5% of population again now in new location of the wolrd is capable
to discriminate other 95% in the region where "only Armenain is spoken in
the streets".
>Nationalists,
> who until now have operated under an umbrella group called Javakhk, have
> recently formed a more radical party called Virk (the medieval Armenian
name
> for Georgia.)
>
> The Georgian Justice Ministry refuses to register the party citing its
> "regional" character." But one of Virk's leaders, David Restakian, says
> Tbilisi wants to bar the party from participating in parliamentary
elections
> next October.
I am not sure but I guess party participating in elections should have some
vision for entire country.... They can simply push themselves to think more
and view entire picture. Then I guess noone will be against their
participation.
>
> Restakian says that "we are more dangerous for them than Javakhk because
we
> want to obey their rules of the game." He adds that one in ten Georgian
> citizens is an [ethnic] Armenian and "yet we have no senior officials in
> Tbilisi."
Also there are 50% females among Georgian citizens and there are only 5-15%
officials representing them. We have to fight togather. I guess it is
correct government eventually should be multyethnic.
>
> Virk's stated aim is a "federal" Georgia in which Javakhetia would be a
> separate entity.
Aha as we see it is starting...
>The nationalists, who are pro-Russian and anti-Turkish, are
> against possible passage through the region of a pipeline carrying
> Azerbaijani oil to the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
It is unclear why in the world oil is used as a basis of political tentions.
Why the transfer of oil can be viewed as a influence and leverage of one
country upon the other.
>They are clearly the
> force upon which Russia will rely to keep its presence in the region.
I am not sure how the hell Russia wants to keep oil in Caspian Sea unsold.
Money and politics are intervowen and this is the problem....
Actually from this now start conspiracy theories and hipotheses.
Generally I guess representatives of Armenian population in Javakhetia are
planning to become next headache for Georgia. Hope this situation won't
evolve to the intense categories of headaches.
n.b.
Dimitry Volshebnik
"Nana Bukhsianidze" <gr...@nh.ultranet.com> wrote:
>
Thank you Nana, very good post, I didn't know much about this Georgian
problem, well I guess its not serious problem compare to Abkhazia or South
Ossetia but nevertheless its a problem. For now Georgian government is doing
the right thing and that means they don't force Armenians to learn Georgian,
etc. Well it is according to you but I wonder what Armenians from that area
think about their future. As far as I can tell they are not very happy to be
in Georgia, so perhaps we should expect another Nagornyi Karabakh, Georgia is
a small country but with so many ethnic problems. I heard 1 million Georgians
left Georgia during past 8 years, so it can't be good. Well at least you can
buy good shashlyki in Moscow :)
I don't want to go deep into how Georgians solve their problems but you do
make them look like angels that everybody want to abuse. Georgian's
government main goal should be how to improve economy and not how to react to
latest speech of Akhazian leader. And it is also very wrong to see Russia as
an enemy, you may not feel this way but seems like most guys in Georgian
parliment think of Russia as enemy. To mess with Russia in any kind of way is
a big mistake, especially for Georgia, as you know Russia has big influence
in Georgian's troubled regions. Georgia's new friendship with Turkey looks
ridiculous, I don't where Georgia goes with that.
--
"If it makes you happy it can't be that bad..." Sheryl Crow
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Nana Bukhsianidze
Dimitry Volshebnik <vesn...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7q5b4s$86$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <7q3h9p$ndt$1...@autumn.news.rcn.net>,
> "Nana Bukhsianidze" <gr...@nh.ultranet.com> wrote:
> >
>
> Thank you Nana, very good post, I didn't know much about this Georgian
> problem, well I guess its not serious problem compare to Abkhazia or South
> Ossetia but nevertheless its a problem.
You are welcome. Many people don't know about this particular situation.
>For now Georgian government is doing
> the right thing and that means they don't force Armenians to learn
Georgian,
> etc.
Forcing of population in anything is very wrong. I think eventually it is
necessery to incorporate Armenian society in life of Georgia like they are
incorporated in USA and Frace and many other countries. Means they have to
have career opportunities according to their capacities and should be
accepted equally. There are actually many Armenians who wish to be Georgian
that people should be encouraged. During times of Tamar, Armenian brothers
were one of the most influancial persons in Georgia. And they did a lot of
good things. Actually... north Caucasians were the major core of Georgia's
police ( payed police forces) during Tamar's and David's times.
>Well it is according to you but I wonder what Armenians from that area
> think about their future.
I am curious too. but none responded to this post.
>As far as I can tell they are not very happy to be
> in Georgia, so perhaps we should expect another Nagornyi Karabakh,
Hardly, if there won't be a major financing of Georgian-Armenian war. And
that war will be a disaster for both nations. I hope they and we anderstand
this.
>Georgia is
> a small country but with so many ethnic problems.
Well Georgia is a small piece of the old World the area is saturated with
different ancient ethnicities of very deep roots in time.
>I heard 1 million Georgians
> left Georgia during past 8 years, so it can't be good.
It is very bad for Georgia, if government won't change the taxation policy
in Georgia Georgians will always try to strat businesses in other countries
where conditions for businesses are better. Can you imagine that in Russia
situation for business is better then in Georgia? Figure what taxation is
like there.
>Well at least you can
> buy good shashlyki in Moscow :)
>
> I don't want to go deep into how Georgians solve their problems but you do
> make them look like angels that everybody want to abuse.
Georgia once was much stronger and bigger country which by time keeps
shrinking and losing the function this is why it looks like everybody tries
to abuse it or actually take piece of it.
>Georgian's
> government main goal should be how to improve economy and not how to react
to
> latest speech of Akhazian leader.
Correct.
This ethnic resentful policies do take all nations to the dead end.
Though Abhazia without Georgians and georgia without Abhazia are in a very
bad economical shape. Abhazians recognize this quite well. No tourizm no
customers of agriculture, no culture no production.
>And it is also very wrong to see Russia as
> an enemy, you may not feel this way but seems like most guys in Georgian
> parliment think of Russia as enemy.
Russia like her president behaves very unpredictable and unreliable. This is
why many people who don't see enemy in Russia can not rely on Russia. When
there will be an open minded normal person in Russia with clear vision of
the situation
as a president I think in a case of same kind person in Georgia situation
between those countries will improve tremendously.
>To mess with Russia in any kind of way is
> a big mistake, especially for Georgia, as you know Russia has big
influence
> in Georgian's troubled regions.
Also messing up with Georgia end up as a very bad lesson for Russia. This is
why fundamentalists from North Caucasus got tremendous selfconfidence. Who
knows Shamil Basaev could a very different person ( much wiser and flexible)
if not the war in Abhazia where they along side with Abhazs did a lot of
terrible crimes and won the war ( with Russia's help). Actually based on
Bible read the revelation of John :God loves small and weak Christian
nations and punishes greater countries for the crimes against them.
>Georgia's new friendship with Turkey looks
> ridiculous, I don't where Georgia goes with that.
Turkey in this recent history didn't do anything comparable with what Russia
did with Georgia ( means instigating conflicts). This is why Georgia is
going on that path. I am not sure where it goes. I am not sure....
n.b.