MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI NOT ADVISING TO THINK OF CHANGING POLITICAL STATUS OF SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETIA

Mikhail Saakashvili considers deeper integration of the Armenian Diaspora into the economic, political and cultural life of Georgia necessary. The Georgian President stated it at a meeting with journalists in Yerevan yesterday. In his words, Armenians residing in Georgia should feel citizens of the country enjoying full rights: with equal access to the state service, all spheres of economy and education opportunities. “Situation should be deprived of its bureaucratic nature for issues to be solved at the local level, for creating local cooperative societies to provide people with employment,” the Georgian leader said. He considered “abnormal” the situation, when the Russian military base is the only employer in the Akhalkalaki region of Georgia. As of the demands to change the political status of Samtskhe-Javakhetia region of Georgia, “these issues are being solved exclusively within the country,” Saakashvili said. “Any attempt to artificially blow up stability, firstly, will fail, as Armenia has a President, who understands the significance of peace and stability very well, and secondly, it is pregnant with a huge tragedy, so I do not advise anyone even to think of it,” he stated. President noted he does not welcome debate over the issue either in Georgia, or at the international level.