27.01.2009“YERKIR” UNION’S STATEMENT REGARDING AN ARTICLE IN “AZERBAIJAN” OFFICIAL PERIODICAL OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
January 22, 2009
Yerevan, Armenia
However, the activities of “Yerkir” Union are presented in the article in a grossly distorted way. Inter alia, according to the newspaper, the aim of “Yerkir” Union is “achieving the independence of Javakheti by implementing separatist politics”.
“Yerkir“ Union wouldn’t have been obliged to draw attention of the public to a commonplace example of Azerbaijani disinformation propaganda machine, if this article hadn’t been published in one of the official periodicals of Azerbaijan, and, therefore, written by request of the Azerbaijani authorities.
Thus, the main objective pursued by the mentioned publication is to cause а misunderstanding concerning the processes that are taking place in and around Javakheti and the activity of “Yerkir” Union there. The author of the publication by breaking all the norms of the journalist ethics simply misrepresents the views expressed by Chairman of “Yerkir” Union Sevak Artsrouni in his interview to the “Azg” daily on December 5, 2008 (See: http://www.azg.am/EN/2008121201).
Nonetheless, the objectives pursued by “Yerkir” Union in Georgia are clear and precise:
1.To support the legislative-normative standards, providing for the use of the Armenian language at the level of local government and administration in the areas with the compact settlement of persons belonging to the Armenian minority,
2.To seek a solution to the socio-economic, linguistic, educational-cultural and religious problems of the Armenian Minority of Georgia (non-registering of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, insufficient representation of the Armenians in local and central governance bodies, the impossibility to get higher education on the basis of mother language etc).
(See detailed at: http://www.yerkir.org/index.php?lang=eng&level_id=10)
The activity of “Yerkir” Union in addressing the problems of Javakheti and Georgian Armenians is mainly based on the obligations undertaken by the Georgian government with respect to protection of ethnic minorities of the country. It should be mentioned that the necessity to give a proper protection to the ethic minorities of the country has been emphasized in the recommendations of various international structures and human rights organizations, among others – the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee.
Therefore, “Yerkir” Union carries out committed work directed to representation and protection of Javakheti and Georgian Armenians and promotion of the human rights protection standards set forth by the relevant international structures (UN, OSCE, the European Union, the Council of Europe etc).
«Yerkir» Union of Non-governmental Organizations for Repatriation and Settlement
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