“Churches in controversy are Georgian, not Armenian”

The churches in controversy located in Georgia’s capital and regions, are Georgian, not Armenian, told Armenian reporters in Tbilisi Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, Alexander Nalbandov.  

He said that last research reports by scientists and historians make it clear. “Georgia can’t transfer historical monuments to an individual which is the head of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The heirship belongs to legal entities only. The Armenian Apostolic Church isn’t a legal entity in Georgia,” detailed Nalbandov adding that claims of the Armenian community of Georgia to return the churches back are groundless.

Georgian official said that relations between Armenia and Georgia could be better if Armenia at the international organisations like UN backed and supported resolutions proposed by Georgia. When asked why Georgia doesn’t support Armenia’s resolutions, Nalbandov said that each county implements a policy of own interests. He also said that Georgia meets halfway in relations with Armenia, citing the opening of the Upper Lars Checkpoint and transit of Russian gas to Armenia via Georgia as examples. But he was silent about the fact that Georgia earns an income from gas transit via its territory.

Nalbandov also referred to Georgian-Russian relations and said that Tbilisi is always ready to negotiate with Russia “in any format, without preconditions and at equal positions.”