06/04/2013 16:45
Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem tries to change Javakhk's ethnic composition
"The former Georgian authorities along with Mikhail Saakashvili supported somewhat the return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakhk. In the Soviet period up to 2009, about 300 families returned to Javakhk,” Johnny Melikian, an expert on Georgia, told the correspondent of Aysor.am, when commenting on the recent events related to Meskhetian Turks’ return to Javakhk.
According to J. Melikian, some 30,000-35,000 Meskhetian Turks currently live in Turkey, the North Caucasus and Central Asia. In his words, the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem promotes their return to Javakhk, understanding that Javakhk is of great importance not only to Georgia, but also to Armenia.
“Turkey and Azerbaijan want to change the ethnic composition of Armenian-populated Javakhk and the demographic situation in that region,” J. Melikian noted.
According to him, there are still some legislative obstacles to Meskhetian Turks’ return to Javakhk, and they have to collect a great number of documents to be allowed to come back.
“Meskhetian Turks will have to live in Aspindza region mostly populated by Georgians – the Georgian authorities want to show there are no problems with Armenians,” the expert said. He noted that the return of Meskhetian Turks to Javakhk is not in the national and state interests of Armenia.
According to Melikian, the issue of Meskhetian Turks will be raised during the Georgian president’s visit to Turkey, and today the Turkish side is prepared to restore Georgian churches in the territory of Turkey in return for Georgia’s permission for Turkey to build a mosque in Georgia.