CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 22

MANE BABAJANYAN
matter of consideration while endeavoring to develop relations with
Georgia. Hence, revealing and discussing the existing problems of the
two countries is an essential step towards improving the relationship.
This study consists of three main parts. The first one sheds light
mainly on the academic literature explaining the most relevant problems
between Armenia and Georgia. In the second and third parts, an attempt
is made to cover the gaps of present in the discussed literature primarily
concerning recent developments with the help of secondary and primary
data, respectively.
The academic literature reveals a range of problematic issues in
Armenian-Georgian relations. Some are discussed in this section. First
and foremost, the short dispute that occurred at the beginning of the last
century and left its mark on the future relations of the two countries are
treated. Second, the differing foreign policy preferences of Armenia and
Georgia that may directly affect the relationship between the two
countriesare examined. Next, the most urgent problems of the Armenian
community in Georgia are addressed. Finally, the difficulties of
transportation-related issues are reviewed.
The Problem of Lori and Javakhk, and Border Demarcation
The 1918 Armenian-Georgian war over Borchalu (Lori) and
Akhalkalaki (Javakhk) which are geographically part of the Armenian
Highland has left its trace on the present relationship of the two countries.
Back in the 19th century, as a part of the Caucasus Viceroyalty, which
was an administrative and political region in the Russian Empire, the
territories of Armenia and Georgia became subject to territorial-
administrative division without taking into consideration the ethnic
distribution there. Only in 1917, when the Russian Empire was abolished,
did the three South Caucasian nations (Armenians, Georgians, and
Tatars) independently agree to solve this problem based on the ethnic
principle. The Georgian National Council initially did not oppose the
transfer of two-thirds of the territory of Borchalu and the entire province
of Akhalkalaki to Armenia, which were both mostly inhabited by ethnic
Armenians. However, in order to prevent the advancement of Turkish
forces toward Tbilisi, the Georgian army entered Lori and established a
checkpoint there. 1 Afterward, the newly formed Georgian government

1
Arshak Jamalyan, Hay-VratsakanKnchiry [The Armenian-Georgian Wrinkle] (Yerevan,
Mitq Analytical Center, 1991), 16-25.
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