October 18, 2003 - 20:05 AMT
SETTLEMENT OF TURKS-MESKHETIANS IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETIA THREATENS GEORGIA'S SECURITY, GEORGIAN POLITICIAN CONSIDERS
If Turk-Meskhetians compactly occupy even one inhabited location in Samtskhe-Javakhetian region of Georgia, it will create preconditions for appearance of a new hearth of tenseness and provoke separatist spirits in the region, as reported by A-info agency, head of Ertoba political league Tamaz Gobedzishvili stated. "Turk-Meskhetians' claims to settle in the boundary with Turkey regions should give reason for speculation. I do not think their demands accord with the interests of the country", - T. Gobeszishvili added. He blames present Georgian leadership for the existence of this issue, elucidating it by the fact that tomorrow Georgia may face the problem of losing a part of its territory. To remind, the Turk-Meskhetians who were evicted from Georgia in 1994, are going to resettle in the villages of Akhaltsikhi and Addinegi regions.