ArmeniaNow April 24 will mark the 96th black anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey. In this connection member-organizations of the Georgian-Armenian Community released a statement informing that for two years in a row the Armenian population is calling upon the Georgian president and the parliament to consider the Genocide recognition issue.

It should be noted that never have the atrocities committed against Armenians early last century been “remembered” in Georgia on a parliamentary level. All the efforts of Armenian organizations to convince Georgian law-makers to not even pass a resolution condemning that crime, but at least pay tribute by a minute of silence have failed.

With a request to initiate the recognition bill the Georgian-Armenian Community has turned to the country leader, parliament speaker and heads of factions, as well as Georgian MPs of Armenian descent.

“We, the undersigned organizations of the Georgian-Armenian Community, in the name of justice and democratic values, are calling upon you to join the initiatives of the civilized world community and put the issue of the Armenian Genocide in the territory of the Ottoman Empire on the agenda of discussions at the Georgian parliament,” the statement read in part.

A number of NGOs have joined this initiative, such as the Armenian Center of Cooperation in Georgia, Armenian Student Association of Georgia, Georgian Armenians’ Youth Union, Armenian Youth Association of Georgia, Nor Serund (New Generation) Association of Armenians in Georgia, the Assembly of Tbilisi Armenians.

Last year, prior to the 95th anniversary, members of the Assembly of Tbilisi Armenians launched a campaign during which at the ancient district of Havlabar they collected 1915 signatures under letters to the Georgian president, parliament speaker, each member of parliament individually, as well as to leaders of several political parties. They even distributed booklets with scientific researches and unique records on the genocide preserved in the archives of the United States, France, England, Universities of Cambridge and Yale.

While the authorities were studying these documents the Azeri Congress of Georgia lobbied not to recognize “the fictional genocide” and held its own act of protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi with a slogan “Azerbaijan-Turkey: one nation, two states”.

“Before the parliament considers the issue of the Armenian genocide, it has to be first discussed in scientific and academic circles,” chairman of the Committee on European Integration David Darchiashvili said. “No real research of the events of that time has been carried out in Georgia, and it is hard for politicians to judge. We need more information.”

It is not in Georgia's interest to be on bad terms with neighbors. Turkey is one of its main trade-economic partners and investors, Azerbaijan is the main supplier of low-priced gas.

And Armenia is a country with centuries-long relations with Georgia, moreover, it is totally dependent on the transit communications through the territory of Georgia.

Hence, political analysts believe the Georgian parliament is highly unlikely to put the genocide recognition issue on its agenda. And besides, they say, the country defining all of Georgian politics – the USA – has not decided on the genocide recognition issue either.

Weather the Georgian parliament will or will not consider the issue will soon become clear. In any case, the Armenian organizations of Georgia are promising acts of protest.