Road Linking Armenia to Batumi will Raise Problems for Georgia: Shevardnadze

Former President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze sees a danger in Armenia’s construction of a road linking the country with the Georgian province of Ajara.

“This project might create a demographic problem for Georgia,” he said in an interview with Georgian daily Asaval-Dasavali.

Recall, during his visit to Georgia last week, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan discussed the matter of building roads with his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili. They agreed to accelerate construction of the road from Armenia to Batumi, Georgia. Saakahsvili said this will prompt the flow of Armenian tourists to Georgia.

Shevardnadze, however, fears that the demographic picture in Ajara might change was a result of the inflow of Armenians.

“Look at Abkhazia, there are more Armenians than Abkhaz there,” he said.