“Although Armenian and Georgia claim to be friendly nations, their relations are much of a show,” the Chairman of the Javakhk compatriotic union, member of the RA Parliament Shirak Torosyan told reporters on March 17.

According to him, Armenians residing in Georgia have numerous problems, the urgent ones being the Armenian language, status of the Armenian Apostolic Church, putting an end to acts of persecution against Javakhk activists and free transportation of people and cargoes through the checkpoints.

He pointed out that, along with the Georgian authorities’ “ostrich policy,” the Javakhk Armenians are now raising the issue of autonomy. “One fine day Javakhk will turn into either waning Nakhchevan or eruptive Nagorno-Karabakh,” Torosyan said.

As regards the reopening of the Upper Lars checkpoint, he said that it is chiefly Georgia that benefits. “Don’t think Georgia is generous to ‘fraternal’ Armenia. The reopening of Upper Lars is to our advantage, though,” he said.

T.P.