March 14, 2006 - 17:08 AMT
Hrazdan Madoyan: Javakheti Was Never Part of Independent Georgia
After final withdrawal of the Russian military base from Akhalkalaki Turkish military will occupy its place. It is the same under which flag they will be deployed, member of Javakhk NGO Council Hrazdan Madoyan stated. In his words, residents of the region had the bitter experience of "coexistence with the Turkish army" in 1918-1920, when Turkish troops entered Akhaltsikhe. "As a consequence, there remained almost no Armenians, though there was a Georgian general in Akhalkalaki, who seemed to control the situation. The same can repeat today," he remarked. At that Madoyan emphasized that Javakheti has never been part of independent Georgia. Akhaltsikhe town was part of the Georgian state, i.e. Samtskhe province. "According to the new administrative division of Georgia, these two provinces were joined and Samtskhe-Javakheti region was formed," Madoyan said.