RIA Novosti, Russia
2005-04-03 12:07
GEORGIA’S ARMENIANS DEMAND OFFICIAL STATUS FOR ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN 2
DISTRICTS WITH ARMENIAN POPULATION
TBILISI, April 3 (RIA Novosti) – The United Javakhk civil association
demands that the Georgian authorities grant an official status to the
Armenian language in the Akhalkaki and Ninotsminda districts of Georgia,
according to a press release issued by this organization, reports the
Novosti-Georgia agency.
The press release points out that the United Javakhk had earlier demanded
that the Georgian authorities should officially recognize the fact of
genocide committed against Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire in 1915,
authorize teaching Armenia’s history in Armenian schools in Georgia, sponsor
excursions to Armenia for pupils of Armenian schools in Georgia, and adopt a
law on protection of ethnic minorities’ rights.
“To date, these demands have not drawn a positive response from the Georgian
authorities,” the press release says. The document points out that the
United Javakhk is set to resort to all constitutional methods of political
dialogue to attain the above goals.
“On March 31, a massive rally attended by thousands of people took place in
Akhalakaki despite numerous obstacles caused by the Georgian authorities and
local police,” the document asserts. The authors of the document allege that
the rally brought together about 9,000 people. The demonstrators protested
against the authorities’ plan to pull out the Russian military base from
Akhalakaki. Leaders of the United Javakhk told the audience about the
results attained after the previous rally, which took place on March 13.
Among other things, they said, the authorities opened a passport office in
Akhalakaki, and promised to study the feasibility of teaching Armenia’s
history in Armenian schools in Georgia.
The United Javakhk also turned to Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
with a request to grant the status of a diocese to the Javakheti district
hosting Georgia’s Armenian diaspora. Finally, the organization applied to
the Armenian Government with a request to contribute to the region’s
economic development.