Why Javakhk is important
10:53 – 05.03.11
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
Asbarez.com
Every day, the Armenians of the Samtskhe-Javakheti (Javakhk) region in
Georgia face a harsh battle for survival. Yet through sheer will and
determination, the community, which faces discrimination and
insurmountable obstacles, is able to keep the Armenian identity alive,
not for fear of assimilation but for the most basic of reasons:
survival.
In the 20 years since Armenia’s independence and the collapse of the
Soviet Union, the plight of the Armenians in Javakhk has not been
center stage, simply because the life and death struggle to liberate
Karabakh was, and continues to be at the fore, since it is so
detrimental for the Armenian nation.
No one knows that better that the Armenians living in Javakhk, where
vestiges of the Soviet regime are still very much part and parcel of
daily life. Despite the unique position Georgia enjoys as a darling of
the West, enough to prompt a Western-backed and orchestrated color
revolution, official Tbilisi has not been willing to enact reforms
and, through its arcane laws, discriminates against minorities living
in Georgia by blocking their ability to enjoy basic and fundamental
rights of practicing their religion and speaking their language.
Armenians in Javakhk, who have lived there for centuries before being
annexed to Georgia by Joseph Stalin, are being systematically
persecuted and their right to life and liberty is being hampered on a
daily basis.
This second-class citizen status is impeding Armenians from getting
jobs, being represented in local and federal government structures and
from teaching Armenian in schools. Furthermore, a state-sponsored
campaign to crack down on the community has intensified, resulting in
the arrest and incarceration of community activist and leaders on
trumped up charges that often border on absurdity.
For its part, the Armenian government has not been willing or able to
effectively address the plight of Javakhk Armenians. As a quick way
out, the government has always scapegoated Armenia’s reliance on
Georgia as a route to Russia and the Black Sea for its ineffective
response to this humanitarian and national crisis. Even the Diaspora
Ministry, with a stated mission of assisting communities outside of
Armenia, has failed to address some of the basic needs of the Javakhk
Armenians. A sadder reality facing Javakhk Armenians who flee their
ancestral homes to settle in Armenia is the discrimination they face
from locals.
Despite this bleak and dire existence, Javakhk Armenians are fighting
for their rights. Whether it is through celebrating cultural and
religious holidays or outlining the political demands for a better and
more equitable treatment of Armenians, the community is advancing the
Javakhk Cause through its own means and abilities.
Their demands from the Georgian authorities are to not impede the
teaching of the Armenian language through state-sanctioned obstacles,
which generally are manifested through financial cuts to Armenian
schools or the restriction on teaching of history and religion.
Another important stipulation is fair representation in local and
federal elected offices and equal opportunity for employment. An end
to random raids of community facilities and arrest of leaders is also
of utmost importance in their demand for human rights. The people of
Javakhk are convinced that the most logical way to realize their
objectives and address the inequities of the current situation is
through autonomy for Javakhk within a federated state of Georgia.
On constant that has kept the Javakhk movement in the forefront and
has provided much-needed resources to the Armenians of Javakhk has
been the Armenian Relief Society Javakhk Fund, which will host its
annual fund-raiser on Sunday. Through this effort, the ARS has opened
kindergartens, community centers and provided humanitarian assistance
to people of Javakhk and has become a lifeline for the Armenians in
Javakhk. The efforts of this initiative must be supported and the
community should take more of an active role in Javakhk Fund
activities.
The challenges facing Armenia, Karabakh and the entire Armenian nation
are compounded by the realities facing the Armenians of Javakhk. Aside
from Georgian government’s ill-treatment of Armenians, the
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak-Baku railway – almost entirely
funded by Turkey and Azerbaijan – coupled with the planned settlement of
Meskheti Turks in Javakhk proper threaten the very existence of this
historic Armenian territory.
Javakhk is important for sole reason that it is a critical part of our
national agenda, the success of which depends on the participation of
all Armenians in ensuring that the aspiration of the people of Javakhk
are heard and fulfilled.
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian