Samtskhe-Javakheti
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| Samtskhe-Javakheti
სამცხე-ჯავახეთის მხარე |
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| General info | |
| Region ISO 3166 code: | GE-SJ |
| Area: | 6,413 km² |
| Population: | 208,000 (2002) |
| Unemployment: | 4.6%[1] |
| Poverty: | 60%[1] |
| Average salary: | $46 per month[2] |
| Subdivision: | 6 regions |
| Capital: | Akhaltsikhe |
| Governor: | Giorgi Khachidze |
Samtskhe-Javakheti (Georgian: სამცხე-ჯავახეთი) (formerly Meskheti) is a region in southern Georgia, with Akhaltsikhe as its capital. Samtskhe-Javakheti comprises six administrative districts: Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Borjomi, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda. There are 5 municipalities, 6 townlets, 67 community and village sakrebulos (assemblies), and 268 villages in the region. It is bordered by Guria and Imereti to the north, Kartli (Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli) to the north-east and to the east, Armenia and Turkey to the south and Ajara to the west. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the South Caucasus natural gas pipeline pass through this region.
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[edit] Expulsion of Meskhetian Turks from Meshketi
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Meskhetian Turks. (Discuss) |
Meskhetian Turks (or simply Meskhetians) are the former Muslim inhabitants of Meskheti (now known as Samtskhe) in Georgia, along the border with Turkey. From November 15 to November 25, 1944, they were deported in cattle-trucks to Central Asia by order of Stalin and settled within an area that overlaps the boundaries of the modern nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Today, many are still dispersed across those countries. Of the 100,000 forcibly deported, a total of 10,000 perished.[3] A majority (more than 80%) of Meskhetian Turks are ethnic Turks (called Yerli or Terekeme) with some Kurds and Hamshenis.[clarification needed] A minority (about 40%) are the descendants of indigenous Georgians who were converted to Islam in the 17th-18th centuries.[citation needed] The estimated number of Meskhetian Turks is around 300,000.
[edit] Politics
According to the 2002 census, ethnic Armenians (chiefly concentrated in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda districts), are the majority in the region, making up about 54% of the population.[4] They share the region with Pontian Greeks, Ossetians and Georgians. Currently, they are underrepresented in all spheres of public life, especially government. Only three of the governor’s 26 staff members are Armenian (11 per cent). The same is true for the territorial departments of the various ministries. For instance, only sixteen of 82 staff members (19.5 per cent) of the tax department in Samtskhe-Javakheti are Armenian.[5] Lack of dialogue between local Armenians and the national government in Tbilisi adds to perceptions of discrimination and alienation.[6] There have been demonstrations, police brutality and killings in this region.[7] Many Armenians claim they are treated as second-class citizens. The local Armenian civic organization, United Javakhk Democratic Alliance, is calling for local autonomy, comparable with that promised to Abkhazians and Ossetians.
[edit] Tourist attractions
Two of the major tourist attractions are the cave monasteries of Vardzia (which was founded by Queen Tamar in 1185) and Vanis Kvabebi (which dates from the 8th century). They are located near the town of Aspindza.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Investment Guide to Georgia :: Samtskhe-Javakheti
- ^ 403 Forbidden
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/apr/05/guardianobituaries.usa as retrieved on 29 Apr 2008 20:59:44 GMT
- ^ Statistics Georgia
- ^ Georgia’s Armenian and Azeri Minorities, 22 November 2006 (free registration needed to view the full report)
- ^ Reuters AlertNet - Georgia’s Armenian and Azeri Minorities
- ^ Reuters Foundation; Alertnet, 22 Nov 2006, [Georgia’s Armenian and Azeri Minorities http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ICG/a839b86ed70730cc9b32cbd9a898fc90.htm]
[edit] Other sources
[edit] External links
- Friends at Dinner, Foes at Politics (about socio-economic problems of the region)
- Obstacles Impeding the Regional Integration of the Javalkheti Region, an ECMI working paper (PDF format)
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