Georgian Society Views Armenians As Threat, Armenian Expert Says

GEORGIAN SOCIETY VIEWS ARMENIANS AS THREAT, ARMENIAN EXPERT SAYS

news.am
Aug 3 2010
Armenia

Georgian Deputy FM Alexander Nalbandov’s statements on Armenian
churches are the result of Georgia’s being nervous of national
minorities, Director o the Institute of Caucasus Alexander Iskandaryan
told reporters on August 3.

“His statements have nothing in common with knowledge of history. They
are of more political nature,” Iskandaryan said. Such statements
are regular and may sound strange. However, they are the result of
nervous attitude toward national minorities, particularly Armenians,
the expert said.

“National minorities have always played a key role in building up
Georgian statehood, which caused Georgia to develop certain complexes,”
the expert said.

Two substantial national minorities are currently residing in
Georgia: Armenians and Azerbaijanis. The latter are scattered about
the country, whereas the former have a well organized structure,
political representation, clearly formulated interests. All this puts
the Georgian authorities and public on their guard, the expert said.

“The Georgian society views Armenians as a threat,” Iskandaryan
concluded.

From: A. Papazian