Georgia, Azerbaijan Debate Control Of Ancient Monastery’s Territory

Eurasia Insight ^ | November 3, 2006 | Diana Petriashvili and Rovshan Ismayilov

[SunkenCiv]

Set in semi-desert some 70 kilometers southeast from Tbilisi along the Georgian border with Azerbaijan and within Azerbaijan proper, the complex, which contains a rich collection of cave frescoes, has been a site for conflict as well as for contemplation, ever since construction began in the 6th century. The best-known part of the complex, the Udabno cave monastery, which contain frescoes dating approximately from the 8th to the 13th centuries, as well as the monastery headquarters at Lavra, are located within Georgia. Additional monasteries, some nearly inaccessible and largely ruined, are also on Georgian territory. Azerbaijan contains the monastery of Bertubani, which features frescoes of the legendary 12th-13th century Georgian Queen Tamara and her son, Giorgi IV... "From the military point of view, this position has importance for both countries," said Uzeir Jafarov, an independent Azerbaijani military expert in Baku and a retired colonel. "Theoretically, in the case of military conflict, the side which enjoys control over these heights will get a big advantage." ...Zviad Dzidziguri, a Georgian member of parliament for the opposition Conservative Party, and chairman of the Democratic Front faction, claimed that Azerbaijan had moved its border with Georgia so that one of the complex’s monasteries, Chichkhituri, was now within Azerbaijani territory, putting at risk the remaining monasteries under Georgian control.

[SunkenCiv]

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Davit Gareji (or David Gareja) monastery in eastern Georgia.

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[SunkenCiv]

Georgian Armenians Indignant with
Destruction of Armenian Monuments in Nakhichevan (more Islam)
panarmenian | 22.12.2005
Posted on 12/28/2005 2:20:19 AM EST by jb6
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1547973/posts

Medieval cemetery destroyed in border conflict
(RoP alert & destruction of the Chistendom)
The Australian | April 26, 2006 | Jeremy Page
Posted on 04/23/2006 4:34:00 AM EDT by CheyennePress
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1619861/posts

Tragedy On The Araxes
Archaeology | 6030-2006 | Sarah Pickman
Posted on 07/02/2006 11:06:30 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659537/posts

[SunkenCiv]

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[Fred Nerks]

"From the military point of view, this position has importance for both countries," said Uzeir Jafarov, an independent Azerbaijani military expert in Baku and a retired colonel."Theoretically, in the case of military conflict, the side which enjoys control over these heights will get a big advantage."

Into the valley of death they rode, the muslim camel cavalry!

[eleni121]

Ping

[eleni121]

Given the Muslim predilection for savage destruction...NO! the monastery stays with Georgia.

[MarMema]

Thanks. I saw this a few days ago and was thinking about posting it.

Georgia has a lot of border issues right now. I hope they are worked out.

[MarMema]

Thanks for posting this. One of the monasteries I did not make it to on my visit to Georgia.
I am hoping Georgia is able to hang on to it.