The problems of Javakhk have always existed, and they have always found a solution thanks to the government bodies of both Armenia and Georgia, a former member of Armenia’s parliament has said.

“Problems do exist between neighbors, and they demand a great deal of work to pave way to solutions, which are actually found in the course of time,” Hayk Sanosyan told a news conference on Wednesday.

Sanosyan, who is from Javakhk by birth, agreed that the Armenian-populated Georgian region faces the problem of emigration, the phenomenon being widespread worldwide. In the meantime he said that many Armenians, including his family, that make investments there.

“The members of my family, my brothers, create jobs, and we make investments in Javakhk. We have recently opened 800 jobs there,” he added.

The former lawmaker admitted with regret that he hasn’t so far been able to visit Vahagn Chakhalyan, the Georgian-Armenian activist jailed in 2009.

“That’s their domestic problem that we cannot address; I am very sorry that our compatriot is in such tight circumstances,” he said.

Asked by Tert.am whether he believes in the credibility of the May 6 parliamentary election in Armenia, and who he will back in the 2013 presidential polls, Sanosyan answered: “I do believe that there was a fair election; as for the presidential polls, I will, of course endorse [President] Serzh Sargsyan”.

Hayk Sanosyan is not affiliated with any political party at present. From 2007 until the recent parliamentary polls, he represented the ruling Republican Party faction in the National Assembly.