Armenian NGOs in Georgia\'s predominantly Armenian-populated southern region of Djavakheti have written to President Mikheil Saakashvili asking him to grant the region autonomy within Georgia. Vardan Akopian, who heads the NGO Youth of Djavakhk, told journalists that the request is problematic insofar as the Georgian Constitution does not provide for transforming the country into a federation. But he expressed the hope that the Georgian authorities \"will find democratic approaches to the issues of the national minorities,\" and that the granting of autonomy to Djavakheti will prove to be \"the first step towards a new Georgia.\" (Caucasus Press)