Armenian Georgian Relations

[Artashes]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Georgia having normal relations with Russia is marvellous for us. Georgia is like Ukraine. Color Revolution -> Realises being lodged into West's a$s is not practical -> Recoil to the 'middle ground'.

------- being lodged into the west's as$ ---------
Great discription Moss

[Mos]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Ivanishvillii's visit seemes to have made some good progress and is seen as a positive development by over 60% of Georgians who also want better relations with Russia. On the other hand there is shakasvilii who is trying to start a panac and undermine everything the PM tries to do. I am glad georgians are taking a more rational approach to their foreign policy and Shakasvillii is becoming more and more seen as a neocon natzi scumbag that he is.

Georgia having normal relations with Russia is marvellous for us. Georgia is like Ukraine. Color Revolution -> Realises being lodged into West's a$s is not practical -> Recoil to the 'middle ground'.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Վրաստանում ստեղծվել է հանձնաժողով հայկական եկեղեցիների հարցով
Ուրբաթ, 25 Հունվարի 2013,


Վրաստանի մշակույթի նախարարության նախաձեռնությամբ մի քանի օր է` գործում է փորձնական հանձնաժողով, որն ուսումնասիրում է Վրաստանի հայկական եկեղեցիների վիճակը: Այս մասին Lragir.am-ին տեղեկացրեց «Բազմազգ Վրաստան» կազմակերպության նախագահ, Թբիլիսիի հայերի ասամբլեայի համակարգող Առնոլդ Ստեփանյանը` նշելով, որ որոշվել է փորձնական հանձնաժողով ստեղծել Վրաստանի վարչապետ Բիձինա Իվանիշվիլիի` Երևան կատարած այցից հետո:
Հանձնաժողովում ընդգրկված են մշակույթի նախարարության, Հայ Առաքելական եկեղեցու վիրահայոց թեմի, վրաց ուղափառ եկեղեցու և երկու հասարակական կազմակերպությունների` «Բազմազգ Վաստանի» և «21-րդ դարի» մասնագետները: Հանձնաժողովի անդամները շրջում են հայկական եկեղեցիներում, գնահատում, իրավիճակը, որից հետո կներկայացնեն իրենց առաջարկությունները: Նախնական ընտրվել է հինգ եկեղեցի, որոնք գտնվում են խիստ վթարային վիճակում և վերականգնման կարիք ունեն: Դրանք են Սուրբ Նորաշեն, սուրբ Մինաս, Կարմիր Ավետարան, Սուրբ Նշան և Մուղնու Սուրբ Գևորգ եկեղեցիները: Հունվարի 23-ին մասնագետներն արդեն եղել են Սուրբ Նորաշեն եկեղեցում և ծանոթացել իրավիճակին:
«Այս փուլում խոսք է գնում եկեղեցիների վերականգնման և պահպանման մասին, սակայն թե ինչ արդյունք կտա հանձնաժողովի աշխատանքը, դեռ վաղ է ասել»,- նշեց Առնոլդ Ստեփանյանը: Նա նաև ասաց, որ հայտնի չէ` հանձնաժողովի աշխատանքն այս ձևաչափով կշարունակվի, թե խնդրի լուծման համար միջկառավարական հանձնաժողով կստեղծվի: «Մի քանի տարբերակ կա` կամ այս ձևաչափով կշարունակվեն աշխատանքները, կամ միջկառավարական հանձնաժողով կստեղծվի: Բայց կարևորն այն է, որ կոնկերտ քայլեր արվեն, և արդյունքները տեսանելի լինեն»,- ասաց Ստեփանյանը:
Նշենք, որ Թբիլիսիի մեր աղբյուրները հայտնում են, որ Վրաստանի վարչապետ Բիձինա Իվանիշվիլին նախքան Հայաստան կատարած այցն է իր շրջապատում քննարկել Վրաստանում գտնվող հայկական եկեղեցիների պահպանման հարցը:

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Ivanishvillii's visit seemes to have made some good progress and is seen as a positive development by over 60% of Georgians who also want better relations with Russia. On the other hand there is shakasvilii who is trying to start a panac and undermine everything the PM tries to do. I am glad georgians are taking a more rational approach to their foreign policy and Shakasvillii is becoming more and more seen as a neocon natzi scumbag that he is.

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Well how about that-a politition doing what he promised-it is so refreshing. I hope this means improvments for the people living in southern Georgia.

[Mher]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Chakhalyan Released from Georgia Prison


AKHALKALAK, Javakhk—Georgian authorities on Thursday released Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan, who was serving a 10-year sentence for alleged weapons possession and inciting unrest, his lawyers reported.

Chakhalyan was arrested by Georgian authorities on July 21, 2008. He was given a 10-year sentence for “organization of large-scale events, public disturbance, hooliganism and illegal possession of weapons,” based on falsified evidence. Vahagn Chakhalyan’s case is currently being studied at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Chakhalyan, accompanied by friends and colleagues who were gathered at the prison, went to the Holy Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, where he was greeted by the Primate of the Georgian Diocese Bishop Vasgen Mirzakhanyan.

Chakhalyan was greeted at the church by Armen Gevorgyan and Ruben Shekoyan, two Armenian political prisoners who were released on January 13 in accordance with a parliamentary amnesty decision.

His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians also spoke to Chakhlyan by phone, sending his blessings to the newly released activist.

Chakhalyan left the Tbilisi church and headed home to Akhalkalak, Javakhk.

Head of the “Strong Homeland” party, Shirak Torosyan, told Yerkir Media that Georgian-Armenian organizations, as well as the Georgian Diocese played a large role in securing Chakhalyan’s release.

“We are encouraged by the new Georgian government’s recent release of Vahagn Chakhalyan and other Armenian activists, from Javakahk and across Georgia, who were improperly jailed simply for the free expression of their ideas and aspirations,” said Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“We welcome these first signs of a more tolerant and pluralist atmosphere in Georgia, and hope that a new, positive approach to the nation’s ethnic and civic diversity will open the door to the cooperative and comprehensive solutions needed to bring about enduring improvements for the Armenian population and all of Georgia’s citizens,” added Hamparian.

During a visit to Armenian last week, Georgia’s Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said the “ball is now in my court,” to fulfill campaign promises regarding the improvement of conditions for the Armenian population of Javakhk.

Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Ivanishvili pledged to do his best to improve the situation in Georgia’s Javakhki region mainly populated by Armenians. Most of them voted for his Georgian Dream alliance in the October elections.

“The Georgian opposition has never received so many ethnic Armenian votes before,” said Ivanishvili. “I want to again thank [Javakhk Armenians.] I gave them many promises. I won’t list those promises now. But I guarantee that the ball is now in my court.”

http://asbarez.com/107843/chakhalyan-released-from-georgia-prison/

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

GEORGIA'S IVANISHVILI SAYS 'BALL IN MY COURT' ON JAVAKHK

http://asbarez.com/107729/georgia%E2%80%99s-ivanishvili-says-%E2%80%98ball-in-my-court%E2%80%99-on-javakhk/

Thursday, January 17th, 2013

President Sarkisian greets Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili

YEREVAN-Georgia's Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is on an
official visit to Armenia, said the "ball is now in my court," to
fulfill campaign promises regarding the improvement of conditions for
the Armenian population of Javakhk, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty's Armenian Service on Thursday.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service, Ivanishvili pledged to do his
best to improve the situation in Georgia's Javakhki region mainly
populated by Armenians. Most of them voted for his Georgian Dream
alliance in the October elections.

"The Georgian opposition has never received so many ethnic Armenian
votes before," said Ivanishvili. "I want to again thank [Javakhk
Armenians.] I gave them many promises. I won't list those promises
now. But I guarantee that the ball is now in my court."

During his first visit to Armenia since becoming Georgia's prime
minister Ivanishvili also pledged to seek the restoration of Georgia's
railway communication with Russia, vital for Armenia, and help make
Georgian-Armenian relations "ideal" during his first official visit
to Yerevan on Thursday.

He also announced an ambitious initiative to end a long-running
dispute between the government-backed Armenian and Georgian churches
after holding talks with President Serzh Sarkisian and Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan.

"I think Armenian-Georgian relations can today be considered normal
and even good," Ivanishvili told RFE/RL's Armenian service in an
exclusive interview. "We spoke about their future with your president
and prime minister. I think we agreed that our centuries-old relations
must become ideal and exemplary.

"This is what I personally and our new government are aiming for,
and I felt the same desire by the Armenian government."

Ivanishvili, who swept to power after defeating Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili's party in last October's parliamentary elections,
was particularly satisfied with his "very warm" meeting with Tigran
Sargsyan. "We spoke in such an atmosphere as if we have known each
other since childhood," he told a joint news conference with his
Armenian counterpart.

Ivanishvili spoke of "interesting decisions" adopted by them. "There
are a few remaining issues that need further discussion, but I am
confident that we will agree on them as well," he said.

One of the key issues on the agenda was Ivanishvili's post-election
calls for the reopening of the railway linking Georgia to Russia via
its breakaway region of Abkhazia. The railway, which used to serve
as a lifeline road for landlocked Armenia, has been closed since the
outbreak of a bloody war in Abkhazia in 1992. Successive Armenian
governments have for years held out hope for its re-launch.

"I think that [the railway] will definitely be opened," Ivanishvili
told RFE/RL's Armenian service later in the day. "We have discussed
this issue today for two or three times. On our side, there is full
readiness [to have it reopened.]"

"I feel that Russia is showing understanding for this issue. There
are positive signals from our Abkhaz brothers," he said.

Ivanishvili explained that renewed rail communication between
Georgia and Russia would be in line with his government's strategy of
facilitating the eventual resolution of the conflicts over Abkhazia
and South Ossetia through confidence-building measures.

The billionaire businessman-turned-politician, who made his huge
fortune in Russia in the 1990s, has advocated a softer Georgian line
on Moscow ever since entering the political arena in late 2011.

Georgia and Russia severed diplomatic relations after fighting a
brief but bitter war in 2008.

Prime Minister Sargsyan said he reaffirmed Yerevan's strong interest in
the reopening of the Abkhaz railway during the talks with his Georgian
counterpart. "We stressed that we will make every effort to have the
railway operate efficiently," he told reporters. "We are interested
in a quick solution to that issue and will adopt a proactive stance
in its settlement."

Most of the freight shipments to and from Armenia are currently
carried out through the Georgian Black Sea ports of Batumi and Poti.

The Russian-Georgian rail link would make some of those deliveries
cheaper and thus shore up the struggling Armenian economy.

According to Ivanishvili, Sarkisian also called for the creation of
a Georgian-Armenian "common market." He said he likes idea.

In what was described as a further step towards bilateral economic
integration, the two premiers presided over the signing of a
Georgian-Armenian agreement on joint customs administration at the
border between the two neighboring states. Yerevan had tentatively
agreed on the joint use of the border checkpoints with Georgia's
previous cabinet controlled by Saakashvili.

Ivanishvili also discussed in Yerevan the issue of worship sites
claimed by the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox Churches. The
unresolved dispute centers on ownership of several formerly Armenian
churches in Tbilisi as well as abandoned medieval monasteries in
Armenia's Lori province bordering Georgia. The supreme heads of the
two churches failed to reach any agreements during almost one week
of negotiations held in June 2011.

Ivanishvili said he proposed that his private charity finance the
renovation of all disputed churches "in both countries" pending a
joint Georgian-Armenian study of their origin. "We could also do
archaeological work there, which I'm also ready to finance through
my fund," he said.

"I think this initiative was received well by the [Armenian] president
and the prime minister," added Ivanishvili. "I think that we will set
up a bilateral commission in a matter of days, start the process of
restoration of these monuments and clarify their origin."

Ivanishvili discussed the matter at a separate meeting with Catholicos
Karekin II at the Etchmiadzin headquarters of the Armenian Church. The
Catholicos' office said the Armenian pontiff expressed hope for its
"proper resolution."

[Vrej1915]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

Սահակաշվիլի. "Հայաստանում Իվանիշվիլիի հայտարարությունը մտահոգիչ է եւ հաշվի չի առնում Վրաստանի շահերը"
17/01

Վրաստանի նախագահ Միխայիլ Սահակաշվիլին "հակապետական" է անվանել Վրաստանի վարչապետ Բիձինա Իվանիշվիլիի հայտարարությունը՝ Ռուսաստանի հետ երկաթուղային հաղորդակցության հնարավոր վերականգնման մասին:

"Իվանիշվիլիի հայտարարությունը, որը նա արել է Հայաստանում մտահոգիչ է եւ հաշվի չի առնում Վրաստանի ռազմավարական եւ աշխարհաքաղաքական շահերը",-հայտարարել է Սահակաշվիլին այսօր՝ հունվարի 17-ին կայացած բրիֆինգում:

Նրա խոսքով՝ ներկայումս նման երկաթուղու անհրաժեշտություն չկա, քանի որ Վրաստանն այլընտրանքային ելք ունի դեպի Եվրոպա՝ Ախալքալաք-Կարս երկաթուղով եւ այդ երթուղին մրցակից է առաջին հերթին Ռուսաստանի համար:

"Երկաթուղային հաղորդակցության վերականգնման հարցը պետք է լուծել միայն Աբխազիայի դեօկուպացիայի հարցը լուծելուց հետո կամ այդ հարցին զուգահեռ, քանի որ երկաթուղային հաղորդակցության վերականգնումը փաստացի նշանակում է Ռուսաստանի կողմից Աբխազիայի ճանաչման օրինականացում",- նշել է Վրաստանի նախագահը, հաղորդում է news.am-ը՝ "Նովոստի Գռուզիային" հղումով:

Հիշեցնենք, որ Երեւանում այսօր կայացած ասուլիսում, Իվանիշվիլին հայտարարել է, որ Աբխազիա-Վրաստան-Հայաստան երկաթուղային հաղորդակցության վերականգնումը հնարավոր է եւ վրացական կողմը բազմիցս պատրաստակամություն է հայտնել այդ հարցում: Իվանիշվիլիի խոսքով՝ այդ երկաթուղային հաղորդակցության վերականգնումը մեծ չափով կախված է Ռուսաստանի դիրքորոշումից: Նա նաեւ ընդգծել է, որ Վրաստանն այդ ուղղությամբ գործադրում է բոլոր ջանքերը:

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

TENSION AHEAD OF IVANISHVILI'S VISIT
HAKOB BADALYAN

http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28640

17:07 16/01/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:

Ahead of the Armenian visit of the prime minister interesting
developments are taking place in the Armenian-Georgian relations.

In particular, the coordinator of the Armenian Assembly of Tbilisi
Arnold Asatryan has told tert.am that the statement by one of the
candidates for president Vardan Sedrakyan that he will annex some
territories of Georgia to have a border with Russia in case he is
elected has caused an anti-Armenian surge in Georgia. Stepanyan says
in Georgia they do not know anything about the serious or unserious
prospects of this candidate and his statement has naturally appeared
on the first pages of the press and caused anti-Armenian moods.

It is not ruled out that Georgia imagines the ratio of the candidate's
seriousness to his non-seriousness, and they just needed a convenient
opportunity to launch an anti-Armenian campaign. Furthermore, there
are some groups in Georgia who would not miss a chance, and they will
not even wait until a serious opportunity opens up.

One way or another, this incident may affect the Armenian-Georgian
meeting. It is not ruled out that Georgia caused tension consciously
to make sure Yerevan regrets for the candidate's statement and ensures
that Armenia respects Georgia's territorial integrity and apologizes
to the insulted Georgians.

In fact, there is no need for regret. It does not mean that Yerevan
must reiterate the statement on taking the Georgian territory.

However, there is no need for regret. It does not mean that Yerevan
must reiterate Georgia's statements. However, it does not mean that
Yerevan must reiterate the statements on annexation of Georgia's
territory. However, there is no need to account for every candidate's
statement.

After all, Tbilisi did not feel ashamed to say that it joins
Kars-Akhalkalaki project which is an Azerbaijani-Turkish project which
will deepen the isolation of Armenia. Or official Tbilisi has never
felt uneasy about infringements of the rights of Armenian community
of Javakhk.

The Armenian-Georgian relation is very subtle considering that Armenia
has transportation limitations. However, in the long run, it does not
mean that Yerevan must always apologize. It will not resolve the issue,
and the feeling of superiority over Armenians is growing in Tbilisi.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the Armenian community in Georgia
should take care about their new level of self-organization rather
than worry about the statements of an ethnographer who aspires to
the post of president. Georgia has about 300 thousand Armenians,
which is about 10% of Georgia's population but the influence of this
community on Georgia's life will hardly be 0.1%.

This is an absurd situation. There is a discrepancy between the number
and the influence. Meanwhile, the Georgian Armenian community could
have been a factor which could bring content into the attitude of
Georgia to its relationship with Armenia.

This relationship must be taken beyond the level of toasts or backstage
deals when the sides reach a compromise through silence and inaction,
enabling Georgia's minor aggressions against the Armenian factor
in Georgia.

In the long run, it is not in Georgia's interests interests to
look down to Armenia because this country's most sustainable ally
in defending the country from Turkish-Azerbaijani expansion will be
Armenia which has no strategic claims to Georgia and simply expects
protection of the Armenian community of Javakhk in accordance with
the Georgian legislation which applies to every citizen of Georgia.

[Artashes]

Re: Armenian Georgian Relations

How I wish I knew how to speak and read my own language.
Artashes