One of the ten regions of Georgia1
, Samtskhe-Javakheti, is often considered as a potential
conflict zone and has been a region of major concern for the government since Georgia’s
independence in 1991. The region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, and especially the two rayons
(districts) forming Javakheti, namely Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, are inhabited by a very large
number of ethnic Armenians, who speak Armenian or Russian as their first language (according
to 2002 Georgian government census the proportion of Armenians in the districts of Akhalkalaki
and Ninotsminda are 94.3% and 95.8% respectively). In addition, smaller groups of Russian
Dukhobors, Greeks and Georgians are settled in Javakheti. Of great concern to the region’s
population is not only the preservation of their languages and culture but also the future
economic development of the region, which is today among the poorest in the country. Indeed,
since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Javakheti has encountered particularly severe economic
hardship and “industry […] has virtually ceased to function2
”. Between 1996 and 2001,
industrial and agricultural production fell by 49.7% in the two rayons of Javakheti, as compared
to 28.3% in the four rayons of Samtskhe3
. Moreover, the Javakheti region, straddling the borders
of Turkey and Armenia is topographically isolated from the rest of the country because of its
mountainous location, and the harsh climate and poor road infrastructure makes its hard to access
in winter.