16:30, 6 July 2007

Sh. Torosyan: Javakhk problems in Georgia should be solved systemically

The numerous problems existing in Javakhk now have an addition: Georgian authorities intend to dismiss all the Armenians who do not speak Georgian. The list of the officials subject to dismissal now includes school directors. This news was reported to journalists by Shirak Torosyan, Chairman of the "Javakhk" Community Union and deputy head of the "Mighty Homeland" Party.

According to his story, the Armenians of the Javakhk region (the Georgian name is Samtskhe-Javakhetiya) do not refuse to learn the Georgian language, but there are no proper conditions to do it, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Mr Torosyan has informed that today the Armenian community suggests putting into the agenda of the Georgian Parliament the issue of introduction in Samtskhe-Javakhetiya of the Armenian language as the second official one: "This requirement outgoes from the respective provision of the European Convention on Languages, however Georgia treats this point with prejudice."

Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent