ArmInfo: Georgia-based Armenians demand that Georgian authorities ratify European Charter for Regional or Minority languages

Yerevan, March 18. ArmInfo.

The Georgia-based Armenians have appeared with demand that the Georgian authorities ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, and this has provoked a new conflict between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, reports Kommersant. 

The demand has come from Akhalkalaki in Samtskhe Javakheti, a Georgian region with mostly Armenian population. 

The speaker of the local parliament Hamlet Movsesyan says that the initiative comes from Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream Party. "Georgia joined the Charter in 1999 but has not ratified it to date," says Movsesyan. 

Georgian Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili notes that it was Saakashvili who urged Georgia in 1999 to promise to ratify the charter. He was an MP then, and his argument was that this would help the country to join the Council of Europe. "So, now he has no other way but to ratify the Charter," says Zakareishvili. 

Experts believe that Georgia will do it. "Our Government should have long ratified the Charter. But now if it does it under the pressure of the Armenian minority, things will look in a somewhat different way," says professor of linguistics Kakha Gabunia.

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Close race in Presidential election that may determine Poland’s future direction

Close race in Presidential election that may determine Poland’s future direction

Poland’s presidential election has come down to an ideological choice between a liberal pro-European versus a nationalist conservative. They are polling so close that the outcome is impossible to predict in the run-off round on Sunday 1st June. The contest has international implications with US President Donald Trump throwing his weight behind the nationalist candidate, Karol Nawrocki, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if Poles choose him over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Close race in Presidential election that may determine Poland’s future direction

Close race in Presidential election that may determine Poland’s future direction

Poland’s presidential election has come down to an ideological choice between a liberal pro-European versus a nationalist conservative. They are polling so close that the outcome is impossible to predict in the run-off round on Sunday 1st June. The contest has international implications with US President Donald Trump throwing his weight behind the nationalist candidate, Karol Nawrocki, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if Poles choose him over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.