JAVAKHK PROBLEM IS A TOUCHSTONE FOR ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS, ARFD REPRESENTATIVE SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 25, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The preelection program’s foreign
political part of Vahan Hovhannisian, a candidate for presidency, a
member of the ARFD Bureau, the NA Vice-Speaker, is based on the idea
that Armenia should have multi-polar political orientation. Artashes
Shahbazian, the NA ARFD faction’s Secretary, said at the January
25 discussion of the candidates’ programs’ foreign political
provisions. He said that V. Hovhannisian’s program has been created
on the basis of ARFD’s strategy.

A. Shahbazian mentioned Armenian-Iranian relations, "which have already
become traditional" as the achievement of the RA foreign policy in
the recent years. As the MP added, Armenia also has good-neighborly
relations with neighboring Georgia, for which, however, "the Javakhk
problem is a unique touchstone." "It is a political problem, as
teaching of the Armenian language or history is prohibited in a
territory populated by Armenians," A. Shahbazian said. In his words,
Javakhk, which is currently instable and poses internal danger,
should become a bridge of friendship.

A. Shahbazian said that in order to normalize the relations with Turkey
and Azerbaijan V. Hovhannisian proposes signing a "Non-Aggression
Agreement" with these countries, the precedent of which already exists
in the world and justifies itself. Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh
problem, A. Shahbazian stated that for the ARFD candidate its best
variant is Artsakh’s reunification with Armenia and the only concession
is to content ourselves with the recognition of Artsakh’s independence.