28 May 2019, 23:17
Georgian activists and clergymen hold action at "David Gareja" monasteries
Several hundreds of Georgian residents took part in the march demanding open talks on the border demarcation with Azerbaijan in the territory of the "David Gareja" Complex. Khalaf Khalafov, a deputy head of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), has treated the construction works in the complex as a sovereign right of Azerbaijan.
Earlier, amid statements by Azerbaijani activists about a motor rally in the territory of "David Gareja", the priests of the complex promised to hold their action.
The road construction near the "David Gareja" Complex has aggravated tensions on the Azerbaijani-Georgian border. The Georgian MFA raised the issue of stopping the works.
"Believers have gathered here to express their opinion that this is Georgian land; and the monastery complex belongs to Georgia," Priest Moses told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
By holding the action, clergymen showed that Georgia would not give up the "David Gareja". "Chichkhituri and Udabno are oldest Georgian sacred places, where six thousand monks lived; and closing access them it is unacceptable," Archimandrite Ekvtime has stated.
Georgia and Azerbaijan should seek a compromise, but not to the detriment of state interests, David Katsarava, the leader of the "Power in Unity" Movement, has stated as quoted by the "Rustavi-2" TV Company.
The border in the "David Gareja" Complex in Georgia and the "Keshikchidag" Nature Reserve in Azerbaijan is guarded by border services of the countries; and performing economic activities in the territory of the country is its sovereign right, Khalaf Khalafov, a deputy head of the Azerbaijani MFA, has stated as quoted by the "haqqin.az".
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 28, 2019 at 06:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Galina Gotua, Beslan Kmuzov Source: CK correspondents
