CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 30

MANE BABAJANYAN been an Armenian community in Georgia since ancient times, the most considerable portion of which lives in Javakhk. Sabanadze describes the Samtskhe-Javakheti region as “a potential zone of conflict,” referring to the existing problems in terms of protection of minority rights and “power-sharing” structures. 45 In their attempt to create a mono-ethnic state, the Georgian government has opted foran isolationist policy toward the Armenian-populated Samstkhe-Javakheti region. Javakhk Armenians are also constantly facing the need for reforms in the sphere of education and the establishment of corresponding institutions. 46 There is a problem of the so-called “Georgianisation” of Armenian schools. Specifically, courses of the Armenian History and Geography have been eliminated from the school curriculum, and the time devoted to teaching the Armenian language has been reduced. Children in Armenian schools in and out of Javakhk learn their native language only during Armenian Language and Literature courses. All the other subjects, including Armenian History, are taught in Georgian. 47 Moreover, those teaching Georgian in Armenian schools are paid two times more than those teaching other subjects. 48 Due to their weak integration into Georgian society, there is a tendency on the part of Javakhk Armenians to enroll their children in schools where the primary teaching language is either Armenian or Russian, instead of placing them in Georgian schools. 49 As a result, the vast majority of Javakhk Armenians do not properly speak or understand                                                              45 Natalie Sabanadze, Armenian Minority in Georgia: Defusing Interethnic Tension, European Centre for Minority Issues (2001), Flensburg, Germany, https://www.ecmi.de/fileadmin/redakteure/publications/pdf/brief_6.pdf. 46 Pavel Chobanyan, “Vrastani Nkatmamb HH Anvtangayin Qaghaqakanutyan Mshakman Razmavarakan Koghmnoroshichneri Shurj [About the Cultivation of Armenia’s Security Policy Strategic Determinants toward Georgia]” in Razmavarakan Anvtangayin Hetazotutyunner, Yerevan, HH Pashtpanutyan Nakhararutyan D. Kanayani Anvan Azgayin Razmavarakan Hetazotutyunneri Institut, (2008), 481-514. 47 Roman Karapetyan, “Hay-Vratsakan Hamaynqy yev Nranum Arka Khndirneri Artsartsumnery Hay-Vratsakan Mijpetakan Haraberutyunnerum [The Armenian-Georgian Community and Raising of Existing Problems in Armenian-Georgian Interstate Relations]”. Orenqy ev Irakanutyun 1, 40, http://ysu.am/files/%20%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B5%20%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B4 %D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B6%D6%84%D5%A8.pdf. 48 Levon Mkrtchyan, “Krtutyany ev Gitutyan Khndirnery Hay-Vratsakan Pokhharaberutyunnerum [The problems of Education and Science in Armenian-Georgian Relations]” in Razmavarakan Anvtangayin Hetazotutyunner. Yerevan, HH Pashtpanutyan Nakhararutyan D. Kanayani Anvan Azgayin Razmavarakan Hetazotutyunneri Institut (2008), 566-572. 49 Tonoyan, “Rising Armenian-Georgia Tensions”, 296. 30