CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 38

MANE BABAJANYAN
Armenia’s previous and current governments have sought to deepen the
cooperation with the EU with the help of the Comprehensive and
Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in November 2017.
The document is still in the process of ratification by the 28 EU member-
states (13 EU countries and Armenia have ratified it so far). 78
For Armenia, an actual obstacle in the relations with its northern
neighbor is the growing Turkish and Azerbaijani presence in Georgia.
Much has been spoken and written about the undisguised intention of
Turkey and Azerbaijan to isolate Armenia in the South Caucasus through
their cooperation with Georgia in regional projects. Turkish-Azerbaijani
influence in Georgia increases day by day and creates potential threats for
both Armenians living there and the Republic of Armenia itself. A
notable incident took place in February 2019 when a group of
Azerbaijanis initiated a protest in front of the Georgian Parliament
against the rededication of the statue of Miqayel Avagyan, an Armenian
fighter during the Karabakh War that was inaugurated the previous month
in Bughashen, a village located near Akhalkalaki. Some Georgian
activists also participated in the demonstration. The protesters were
demanding that Georgian authorities dismantle the statue. According to
them, Avagyan was a “separatist” who took part not only in the Karabagh
War but also in the Abkhaz War. 79 Some Armenian sources mention that
this protest was initiated intentionally by Azerbaijani authorities to
provoke tensions between Armenia and Georgia, especially in the
territory of Javakhk. 80
Another disturbing episode of the Turkish-Azerbaijani presence in
Georgia occurred quite recently, April 24, 2019. April 24 th is the
commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide, which Armenians in

http://www.epnk.org/sites/default/files/page-
files/pub_8568_armeniasvelvetrevolution.pdf.
78 “The Swedish parliament ratifies CEPA between Armenia and EU”, Arka.am, May 3,
2019,
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/sweden_parliament_ratifies_cepa_between_armenia_and_
eu/.
79 “Vrastani Adrbejantsinery Pahanjum en Apamontazhel Miqayel Avagyani Kisandrin
[Georgia’s Azerbaijanis Demand the Demolition of Miqayel Avagyan’s Statue]”, 168.am,
February 8, 2019, https://blog.168.am/blog/200058.html.
80 “Adrbejani Npataky Hay-Vratsakan Bakhum Hrahreln e [Azerbaijan’s Goal is
Provoking an Armenian-Georgian Clash]”, Panorama.am, February 9, 2019,
https://www.panorama.am/am/news/2019/02/09/%D4%B1%D5%A4%D6%80%D5%A2
%D5%A5%D5%BB%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AB-
%D5%B6%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A8/2070744.
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