YEREVAN, APRIL 30 , : President Robert Kocharian urged ethnic Armenians in the southern Georgian province of Samtskhe-Javakheti to learn the Georgian language, which he said is essential for their integration into the Georgian society.

In response to a question during a last week meeting with students and faculty of the Yerevan State University about how Armenia can help ethnic Armenians in Georgia to retain their national identity after 2010, when the majority of subjects at local Armenian schools must be taught in Georgian, Kocharian cited the example of the strong and prospering Armenian community of France saying none of them would have achieved success without mastering the French language.

"Armenians in this region of Georgia should think about learning Georgian instead of how they could replace it with Armenian. Without the knowledge of Georgian Armenians in Georgia will not be able to seek senior and high government position and can not run successful businesses," Kocharian said.

Kocharian said Armenians have always played a role in Georgia, but now when Georgia is an independent country, Armenians can not achieve success without being able to speak Georgian.

In a related news prime minister Serzh Sarkisian described Georgia as 'a very important country for Armenia."

In an interview with an influential Russian newspaper-Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper) Sarkisian said Georgia is the only country that provides Armenia with a road to other countries and the bulk of goods Armenia receives through Georgia and any negative development in Georgia is fraught with serious aftereffects for Armenia.

"Armenia is certainly interested in boosting its relations with Georgia. I suppose that it is our future. If Georgia has decided to join NATO, Armenia respects that decision and is hopeful that it will not affect Armenia's security and Armenian-Georgian relationships," he said.