CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 39

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2)
Georgia usually spend protesting in front of the Turkish Embassy. This
year the Turkish Embassy had decided to celebrate children’s day on
April 24 th by organizing an event in front of the embassy and hung
children’s drawings of Ataturk. In Turkey, this day is traditionally
celebrated on the 23th of April. 81 The incident angered Armenians who
believe Tbilisi’s municipality to be responsible and consider it a
“humiliating attitude toward the Armenian community.” 82
It was interesting to note that after being elected in December
2018, Salome Zurabishvili paid her first official regional visit to
Azerbaijan. In her meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,
Zurabishvili mentioned the “friendly and prospective relations” between
the two countries. Furthermore, she told Aliyev that Georgia and
Azerbaijan “have witnessed similar problems in the recent years”...they
[Georgians] know what “occupation” means for a country “when the
territorial integrity is not yet restored.” 83 Basically, Zurabishvili expressed
her compassion and support to Azerbaijan in regard to the Karabagh
conflict. This announcement became a matter of criticism and anger in
Armenian society. Several Armenian news outlets characterized
Zurabishvili’s statements as “unbalanced” and “dangerous for Armenian-
Georgian relations.” 84
Javakhk and Tbilisi Armenians
The Turkish-Azerbaijani influence is an especially thorny issue for
Javakhk Armenians. Since the inauguration of the Kars-Akhalkalaki (or

81
“Vrastanum Tseghaspanutyan Aktsiayi Phonin Turqery Tsutsahandesen Antskatsrel
Ataturki Nkarnerov [In the Background of the Genocide Action in Georgia, Turks Held an
Exhibition
with
Ataturk's
Paintings]”,
Armedia.am,
April
24,
2019,
https://armedia.am/arm/news/70562/vrastanum-cexaspanutyan-akciayi-fonin-turqery-
cucahandes-en-anckacrel-ataturqi-nkarnerov.html
82 “Tbilisium
Turqakan Despanatan Arjev Turqery Mankakan Mijocarum en
Irakanatsnum, Hayery` ‘Pahanjum yev Hatutsum’ Khoragrov Boghoqi Aktsia [In Front of
the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi Turks are Carrying out an Event for Children, Armenians
– a Protest titled ‘We are Demanding a Retribution’]”, Tert.am, April 24, 2019,
https://www.tert.am/am/news/2019/04/24/protest/2982109.
83 “Zurabishvilin Vorpes Vrastani Nakhagah Taratsashrjanayin Arajin Aytsy Katarum e
Adrbejan [As Georgian President, Zurabishvili Pays Her First Official Regional Visit to
Azerbaijan]”,
Azatutyun
Radiokayan,
February
27,
2019,
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29793876.html.
84 “Yerevan` Bakvi Haytararutyunnerits Heto: Vrastani Nakhagahi Aytsin Yndaraj [To
Yerevan After Making Announcements in Baku: Toward the Visit of Georgia’s
President]”, Civilnet, March 11, 2019, www.civilnet.am/news/2019/03/11/Երևան՝-
Բաքվի-հայտարարություններից-հետո․-Վրաստանի-նախագահի-այցին-
ընդառաջ/356336.
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