Desperate Georgia gets some gas Options

[Azertos]

Desperate Georgia gets some gas

Russian gas has started flowing to Georgia from neighbouring Azerbaijan as Georgia's main supplies remain disrupted after pipeline explosions.


Georgia accused Russia of sabotage at the weekend and the Russian government said Georgia's reaction was hysterical.

Part of the freezing Georgian capital, Tbilisi, is now receiving gas again, but many of the city's residents still lack gas, Georgian officials say.

Georgia's energy woes were compounded by the destruction of a power line.

Armenia was also hit by the blasts on Russian gas pipelines in the North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told the BBC the near simultaneous attacks close to Georgia's border were pre-planned actions orchestrated by Russia.

Russia's foreign ministry dismissed Mr Saakashvili's remarks as "hysteria".

Russian officials earlier described the attacks as deliberate acts by pro-Chechen criminals and said an investigation was under way.

The electricity transmission line in Russia's southern region of Karachayevo-Cherkessiya - also near the Georgian border - was brought down by an explosion just hours later.


Saakashvili blames Russia

Relations between Georgia and Russia have been tense since Mr Saakashvili was swept to power by the so-called "Rose Revolution" in 2003, pledging to lead his nation on a pro-Western course.

Two explosions occurred on the main branch and a reserve branch of the Mozdok-Tbilisi gas pipeline in North Ossetia at about 0300 local time (2400 GMT) on Sunday.


President Saakashvili's chief of staff, Georgi Arveladze, said it would take several days to resume gas supplies nationwide.

Mr Saakashvili said the blasts "happened at the same time, and basically they didn't affect supplies to Russia proper, so we can conclude that it was a very well-organised and very well co-ordinated act".

Georgia is suffering from chronic shortages of gas

"We've received numerous threats by Russian politicians and officials at different levels to punish us for basically for not giving them pipelines."

He likened the crisis to Russia's recent gas showdown with Ukraine - another western-leaning former Soviet republic.

[b]Extra gas

A senior executive at Russian gas giant Gazprom, Sergei Kupriyanov, told the BBC that an extra three million cubic metres of gas had been sent to Georgia via Azerbaijan.

He said repairs to the pipelines were being hampered by the fact that they were located in a remote mountainous area.

Georgia is holding emergency talks on energy supplies with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Mr Saakashvili said Georgia must continue working to reduce its reliance on energy supplies from Russia.

The gas shortage led to long queues for gas canisters in Tbilisi and the temporary closure of schools.

Some Georgians have been turning to alternative heating, such as kerosene and wood-burning stoves, as they struggle to cope with one of their coldest winters for years.

Tbilisi's relations with Moscow have been soured by a continuing pro-Russian rebellion in Georgia's South Ossetia region, the closure of Russian bases in Georgia and the development of close Georgian-US military ties.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4638566.stm

[Iranian]

Our Georgian neighbours deserve our help. I wish Turkey helped abit as well.

They know all about Armenian expansionism. I'll check if anythings posted on it if not I'll post some stuff on it.

[Yerevan]

What's up with all the Armenian haters here. They know all about Armenian expansionism? Armenia also suffered from the explosions. Plus Armenia supplies electricity to Georgia, not only that when everybody was bitching about Armenia and Iran building a gas pipeline, now Georgia all of a sudden wants to be a part of that and they want Armenia to supply them with gas that we will get from Iran.

You need to check the facts first before start blabbering about something that you have no idea about.

[Iranian]

No. Do a search on Javakheti a region in Georgia it has a majority Armenian population and there are some Armenians there causing all sorts of trouble.

They dont want a rail road connecting Kars and Baku (Another project soon to be realised that leaves Armenia in isolation and further connects Turkey and Azerbaijan) to pass through Javakheti because they claim it will increase Turkish influence in Georgia and could threaten the existence of Armenians in Georgia. Yet another Armenian exageration of reality.

[Yerevan]

No. Do a search on Javakheti a region in Georgia it has a majority Armenian population and there are some Armenians there causing all sorts of trouble

Causing all sorts of trouble huh? I was under the impression that the people who were causing trouble were the Turks who several times threatend the Armenians of finishing what they left off in 1915.

Net with a video file with “the last warning” of the Akhaltsikhe Liberation Brigade. Four members of the Brigade against a background of Turkish flag have read an address to the Armenians and Russians residing in the town of Akhaltsikhe of the Armenian-populated Samtskhe Javakhetia region of Georgia. The address maintains the demand to Armenians and Russians to leave Akhaltsikhe immediately and go to Armenia, Russia or America otherwise the brigade members will eliminate the Armenian population of the region. “All who stand in our way will die. We will not allow mentioning of you here. The land of Akhaltsikhe will become ours soon. All who don’t hear us now will regret they were born. Leave your property for us and run. You and your ancestors should remember the year of 1915 (the Armenian Genocide). Russians will not help you. Their time is up on our land. We have warned you, this is our last warning. Go and live or stay and die,” the address says. After reading the address, the brigade members shouting out Allah Akbar burnt the flags of Armenia, Russia and the U.S.

To remind, on October 12 night leaflets signed by unknown at that time Akhaltsikhe Liberation Brigade were stuck to the walls of the buildings. The leaflets told the Armenian population “to immediately abandon the region and go to Armenia, Russia or America.” “Otherwise you will be subjected to Genocide like your ancestors in 1915,” the leaflets said.

[Iranian]

Well the Armenians of Javakheti are the ones who want Javakheti to become apart of Armenia.

How can you not be sure that the Akhaltsikhe Liberation Brigade is just a myth by Russia to cause more problems in the South Caucasus? The Russians are famous for their manipulations. Do you think two gas lines supplying gas to Armenian and Georgia blew up themselves in a region controlled by Russians?

This also coincides with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. There is also a railroad being planned betwen Baku-Tbilisi-Akhaltsikhe-Kars. The railroad is going to go through and that area which is populated mainly by Armenians. Yet another project of the region which ignores Armenia and in this case the Armenians of Javakheti are claiming the the railroad will bring the area under the Turkish sphere of influence, meaning most certain doom for the Armenians in the region (I dont think the Armenians claims holdwater). Its all just to aggravate the Armenians.

[Yerevan]

Iranian wrote:

Well the Armenians of Javakheti are the ones who want Javakheti to become apart of Armenia

The address maintains the demand to Armenians and Russians to leave Akhaltsikhe immediately and go to Armenia, Russia or America otherwise the brigade members will eliminate the Armenian population of the region. “All who stand in our way will die. We will not allow mentioning of you here. The land of Akhaltsikhe will become ours soon. All who don’t hear us now will regret they were born. Leave your property for us and run. You and your ancestors should remember the year of 1915 (the Armenian Genocide

Who did you say want Javakh to become whos?

I'm not in favor of a lot of things Russian are doing. I know they are manipulators and I know Russia benefited a lot from Armenian/Azeri war by selling both Armenia and Azerbaijan weapons and sitting back and enjoying the show. But I highly doubht that threateners were Russians. I know that the Turks were behind those threats because like you said a raulroad is being built and that railroad is going to pass thrue the area pupulated by Armenians. I forgot where I read the article but it talked about this subject and it said that the Turks were planning to settle in those areas to work to "protect" the railroad.

[Iranian]

Whats wrong with Turks moving into Javakheti?

Oh so now all of a sudden Javakheti is an Armenian area. Heaven forbid Turkish immigrants.

Honestly..... I cant see anything wrong with that

[Yerevan]

Whats wrong with Turks moving into Javakheti?

Oh so now all of a sudden Javakheti is an Armenian area. Heaven forbid Turkish immigrants.

Honestly..... I cant see anything wrong with that

Why are you putting words in my mouth? The point that I was trying to make is that it is not the Armenians who are claiming that area. It is the Turks. I even wrote in bold letters and made it big so you could see.

Here one more time.


The address maintains the demand to Armenians and Russians to leave Akhaltsikhe immediately and go to Armenia, Russia or America otherwise the brigade members will eliminate the Armenian population of the region. “All who stand in our way will die. We will not allow mentioning of you here. The land of Akhaltsikhe will become ours soon. All who don’t hear us now will regret they were born. Leave your property for us and run. You and your ancestors should remember the year of 1915 (the Armenian Genocide

[Iranian]

Why dont you read some other news about Javakheti??

Its the Georgians as well.

http://www.regnum.ru/english/561417.html
Armenian MP about Samtskhe-Javakheti events: violation of national minorities’ rights leads to revolt

Social and political situation in the Armenian-populated region of Georgia Samtskhe-Javakheti is extremely unstable. Use of brute force by the Georgian authorities lead to severe resistance of region's residents, as a REGNUM correspondent was told by Head of parliamentary faction of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun Levon Mkrtchyan.

Commenting on the incident of December 11 near the custom office at the border between Georgia and Armenia, Levon Mkrtchan noted that the Georgian side was accountable for it because it had not created any clear strategy of cooperation with national minorities. “Problem of Samtskhe-Javakheti plays a serious role in the Georgian-Armenian relations. Without questioning the Georgian national unity, it's clear that Javakheti must keep its national, Armenian identity. Georgia, which goes on the way of democracy, must understand it. Violation of national minorities rights leads to revolt,” stated Levon Mkrtchan.

On December 11, an incident occurred in the Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia. The reason was a recent dismissal of all the ethnic Armenians from the customs office near the village of Zhdanovakan at the Armenian-Georgian border. They were replaced by Georgian custom officers from other regions of Georgia. Hundreds of local residents rallied near the custom and border stations at the border of Georgia and Armenia. . They appealed to the Samtskhe-Javakheti governor asking to come to the scene and investigate the situation. However, after the governor declined to come, a quarrel of the residents with the Georgian custom officials and frontier guards occurred. As a result, the Georgian officers had to live the check-points that were then partially destroyed. However, a group of the civilians then came to the Armenian check-point which was also damaged. Local residents explained their actions by the fact that along with the hard economic situation and unbearable conditions of life, the region is in reality half-blockaded and actions of the custom officials at the Georgian as well as at the Armenian border make the situation even worse.

Akhalkalak, December 27, 2005

DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE "UNITED JAVAKHK" ON THE ACTIVITY OF AHALKALAK BRANCH OF TBILISI STATE UNIVERSITY AFTER IVANE DZHAVAHISHVILI

The Democratic Alliance "United Javakhk", considering itself responsible for protection of stability and overcoming of ethnic tension imported from outside by some destructive political forces, wants to call the attention of Georgian, Armenian and international community on the activity of Ahalkalak branch of Tbilisi State University after Ivane Javakhishvili.

In 2002, declaring a desire to develop the educational system on periphery and solving the problem of preparation of Georgian speaking local civil servants in Javakhk, the Georgian authorities, have opened a branch of Tbilisi State University in Ahalkalak.

Unfortunately, the branch of the University, designed to become one of the main elements of Javakhk's educational system and important integrational factor, has turned into to the next mechanism of changing the demographic situation in Javakhk to the detriment of Armenian majority and center of tension in the region.

In the first academic year, the 60% of students were the local Armenians and the remaining 40% were Georgians from Javakhk, Samtskhe and other adjacent regions. In 2005, 80 persons have entered to the university. Only four of them are natives from Javakhk, two Armenians and two Georgians. The other 76 students are of Georgian nationality, which have arrived from the other regions of Georgia.

The Georgian students from the other regions of Georgia get scholarships in 100-150 lari (about $75) from "charitable" funds. This sum is enormous by the local standards. They receive free accommodation and daily food; the funds for heating of the leased apartments are allocated. Good job positions are guaranteed to all Georgians, who, after the graduation of the university, will express a wish to stay to work in Javakhk. All Georgians, who will create family and choose Javakhk as a permanent place of residence will receive free dwelling.

The above mentioned facts, as well as the opening of the orphanage for children of Georgian origin in Ninotsminda confirm the suggestion that the Georgian authorities started the realization of the state program aimed at changing of the demographic situation in Javakhk. This program is in contradiction with international laws on protection of the rights of national minorities.

Democratic alliance "United Javakhk" will attentively monitor the situation and firmly stand on guard of the interests and civil rights of the Armenian population of Javakhk. All attempts to wipe out and displace the Armenian population of Javakhk, infringe upon the rights and national dignity of Armenians of Javakhk, will be suppressed within the framework of Georgian legislation, as well as according to the norms of the international law.

[Yerevan]

Where you trying to prove that Armenians are trying to make Javakhk rigion a part of Armenia by posting these articles?

[Iranian]

NEW UNREST IN JAVAKHETI PROMPTS WARNING FROM YEREVAN

By Zaal Anjaparidze

Akhalkalaki, the main town in the predominantly Armenian-populated and Armenia-bordered Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia, was the site of an anti-government protest rally on October 5. The incident reaffirmed that this turbulent region remains unstable, despite the Georgian government's efforts to normalize the situation there.

The unrest began after tax officials from Tbilisi, conducting a routine inspection of local retailers, closed 10 shops for financial irregularities. The shop owners, mostly ethnic Armenians, and about 300 supporters, evidently influenced by local provocateurs, gathered outside the Akhalkalaki district administration building to protest the alleged violation of the Armenians' rights. The protestors's complaints quickly moved from economic issues to political demands such as stopping the closure of Russian military bases and granting political autonomy for the region.

Local police dispersed the rally using rubber truncheons and firing shots in the air. The clash between the authorities and the protesters left several people injured. The police efforts to break up the rally instead prompted more residents of Akhalkalaki and nearby villages to join the protest, making the situation even tenser.

Civic groups based in Samtskhe-Javakheti, as well as some Russian sources, have alleged that the government deliberately planned the brutal end to the protest in order to intimidate the local Armenian population following local demands for political autonomy in the region. A council of local non-governmental organizations, meeting September 23-24, adopted a resolution calling on the Georgian government to grant autonomy to the region (see EDM, September 29).

Javakhk-Info, the local news agency, distributed a bellicose statement by regional Armenian non-governmental organizations saying that the aggressive behavior by the Georgian authorities towards the region's ethnic Armenians leaves them "no other choice than the use of force to protect their interests and dignity" (Regnum, October 5). However, a source in Georgian law enforcement told Kavkas Press that the police shot into the air only after one of the protesters had taken a shot first (Kavkas Press October 5).

Giorgi Khachidze, the presidentially appointed governor of the region, managed to calm the angry crowd through negotiations. Khachidze criticized the police for excessive use of force and promised to hold some of them accountable. "In my opinion, they had no right to fire shots, even in the air," he said (TV-Rustavi-2, October 6). Meanwhile, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili hailed the police actions, saying, "there is no serious problem" and emphasizing that law-enforcement officials were merely maintaining order in a region that had been poorly controlled in recent years (TV-Imedi, October 6).

Saakashvili and other Georgian officials have tried to downplay the latest events in Akhalkalaki, claming that the radical organizations advocating autonomy for the region do not enjoy serious popular support.

Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili told the Armenian newspaper Aikakan Jamanak that Tbilisi welcomes autonomy for Javakheti so long as that means no more than ordinary self-governance. Merabishvili said he is not interested in the Javakheti civic groups expressing political ambitions. "We are going to listen to the elected deputies," he said (Regnum, October 6-7).

A diplomatic warning from Yerevan snapped the Georgian authorities out of their complacency. On October 8, Garnik Isagulian, national security aide to Armenian President Robert Kocharian, warned Tbilisi to show restraint when dealing with the predominantly Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti. Of the October 5 clash, Isagulyan commented, "Georgian authorities should be extremely cautious and attentive in their actions, because any minor provocation could turn into a large-scale clash." Isagulian also dismissed rumors about Russian intelligence playing a role in recent events in Samtskhe-Javakheti (Regnum, Civil Georgia, October 8 ). However, the Russian media's wide and largely biased coverage of the October 5 unrest in Akhalkalaki, routinely voicing the Kremlin's position, suggests that Russia is not a mere observer.

Georgian media have long speculated that Russia and several radical Armenian groups are behind the provocations in Javakheti. Van Baiburt, an Armenian member of the Georgian parliament, confirmed this in an interview with GazetaSNG.ru. Meanwhile, Levon Mkrtichyan, from the Armenian Dashnaktsutiun party, one of the alleged supporters of the Javakheti radical organizations, insisted that Javakheti Armenians advocate only for cultural autonomy.

The Armenian newspapers are increasingly linking the recent unrest in Samtskhe-Javakheti with the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, which bypasses Armenia. They suggest that as Georgia increases its ties with Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia may be left isolated. Armenian papers also argue that if Georgia's national interests conflict with those of Armenia, Tbilisi "should not be astonished at the eruption of a natural expression of self-preservation and self-defense among the Samtskhe-Javakheti population."

As the problem becomes increasingly complicated, Tbilisi will be forced to act. When he visited Armenia on September 29-30, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli stated that Georgia would not implement any programs directed against Armenia. Meanwhile, Nogaideli publicly underlined that regional autonomy in Georgia is only available for Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Ajaria.

Nogaideli's Armenian trip, coming on the heels of the demands for autonomy in Samstkhe-Javakheti, suggests that stability in Samtskhe-Javakheti greatly depends on Yerevan's good will, as Tbilisi has always appealed to the Armenian government to mediate serious disturbances in the region. Saakashvili's government, which inherited the unresolved problems of Samtskhe-Javakheti from former president Eduard Shevardnadze, follows the same pattern. Saakashvili, like Shevardnadze, strives to resolve the region's problems with short-term decisions (see EDM, March 23, May 24, August 3). Meanwhile, Yerevan is gaining more leverage to manage the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti and may be clandestinely urging Tbilisi to reconcile itself to this fact.

[Yerevan]

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