EX-AMBASSADOR OF GEORGIA: WE DON’T WANT ARMENIAN CHURCHES
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 5, 2011 – 18:39 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – WikiLeaks whistle blowing website released February
26, 2010 cables on a meeting with a former Ambassador of Georgia
to Armenia Georgy Tabatadze addressed by ex-Ambassador of U.S. to
Armenia Marie Yovanovitch to U.S. Department of State.
Yovanovitch cites Tabatadze’s statement referring to a conflict
between the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox Churches over
Armenian churches located in Georgia.
“We don’t want the churches. Everyone knows they are Armenian
churches.” Tabatadze said. “Yet it would only be fair to the Georgians
to receive other churches in return. He specifically pointed out
non-operating “Georgian” churches in northern Armenia currently on
the state registry with the Government of Armenia. Tabatadze noted
that while there are no ethnic Georgians in that area who would use
the churches, it is the principle of reciprocity that matters. “In
future, Georgian Orthodox church could establish monasteries there,”
Tabatadze said, according to the cables.
Earlier, however, Georgian historians refused to recognize the presence
of Armenian churches on the territory of Georgia.
From: A. Papazian