March 27, 2002 - 23:13 AMT
TBILISI CONSIDERS RULERS OF JAVAKHETIA REGIONS POPULATED BY ARMENIANS NOT INTERESTED IN DISTRICT AUTONOMY
The rulers, who have consolidated power in Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe, have not done great services to the people of Javakhetia, which is mainly populated by Armenians. As reported by «Arminfo» agency, «Rezonansi» Tbilisi newspaper, which had held a sociological survey in the region, arrived at that conclusion. The newspaper notes everything settles via clans' sorting out relationships in the region. Though autonomy does not suit clans: they have made themselves comfortable, they have good incomes and do not wish to lose spheres of influence due to disorders. But to keep the spheres of influence different branches of power create contradictions between clannish groupings, which were in their time formed by district committee secretaries appointed by the center. But weakening of power and its split gives an opportunity to the clans to profit over the population problems. If the authorities do not take care of solving the social-economic problems of the region, Javakhetia autonomy will not be a myth, the newspaper states.