Turkey Denies It Plans Provocation in Samtskhe-Javakheti

(Tbilisi, March 15, Civil Georgia) – Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk denied reports of Armenian media that Turkey plans provocation against Georgia in its Samtskhe-Javakheti region, largely populated by ethnic Armenians.

Armenian media sources reported recently that Turkey would pressure Georgia through Council of Europe to hasten repatriation of Meskhs deported from Samtskhe-Javakheti in 1944. Armenian media concluded that this would cause tensions in region.

“We are friendly countries and strategic partners and, therefore, we will never resort to measures like provocation,” Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk stated on March 14, who pays official visit to Georgia.

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