Javakhk without Armenians will give advantages to Russia, says MP

Javakhk is of utmost importance to Armenia's security, and if the Armenians living there abandon their homes, it will give Russia more advantages in its relations with Armenia, an Armenian MP has said.

Addressing a conference in Yerevan dedicated to the existing problems in Javakhq, Shirak Torosyan said that Armenia should step up efforts to solve the problems in Javakhq and protect the Javakhq-Armenians' rights.

"Javakhk's role is beyond any description for the security of RA [Republic of Armenia], for its national security system, for the future and for further development," said he.

"Therefore, all our efforts should be aimed at solving Javakhk's problems and protecting the rights of Javakhk-Armenians," he added. "Should there be no Armenian in Javakhk, Russia will treat us the way it likes."

According to Torosyan, Javakhk should be turned into a "factor to solve the problems of Javakhk-Armenians and to warm the Armenian-Georgian relations."

Torosyan went on saying that Armenia should spare no effort to make the Georgian authorities quit what he called "the dirty policy of stripping Javakhk of Armenians" as Georgia's "anti-Armenian policies are escalating every day in various sectors".

"Today, Javakhk residents are, in fact, deprived of the opportunity of communicating in their native language; all the documents are in Georgian," said he, adding, that the classes of the Georgian language have been increased at schools at the expense of the Armenian ones.

Further, Torosyan said that Georgia is taking advantage of its geographic situation and manipulates on Armenia's dependence on Georgia as long as communications are concerned.

In his opinion, Armenia should toughen its stance towards Georgia, motivating it by the problems existing in Javakhk.

"Should Javakhk be stripped of Armenians, we will lose our factor," Torosyan said.