MINELRES: Conference report: Peaceful initiative: Meshketian-Georgians and Armenians

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Emil Adelkhanov <emil-ade@cipdd.org>


Bakurian Peace dialogue 
Peaceful initiative: Meshketian - Georgians and Armenians
Sponsored by UNV (December 09-11, 2002)

16 people representing the districts of S-Javakheti, communities of the
deported People and international agencies attended the conference
Peaceful initiative: Meskhetians-Georgians and Armenians. The meeting
was held in Bakurian on December 09-11, 2002. The meeting was organised
by a local NGO 'Patria' and was facilitated and supported by UNV
Georgia. UNV's collaboration was basically motivated with the view of
preventing tensions among communities once the repatriation process
takes place. UNV also wants to use the grassroots approach to increase
community involvement in this issue.

IOM and UNHCR attended the conference. They briefed the conference about
their work on Meskhetian related issues. Their presence provided a much
more needed element of neutrality. Since there was no government
presence in the conference, participants directed most of their
questions to international agencies. Those who have worked with the
government on several issues were asked to clarify on matters relating
to the draft law on repatriation, compensation, citizenship etc. 

The aim of the conference was:
1. To open up channels of communications between Meskhetians-Georgian
and Armenians.
2. To discuss peaceful ways of facilitating the re-entr�e to Javakheti
region by Meskhetians.
3. Promote and support a non-violence repatriation process.
4. Identify partner NGOs in S-Javakheti who will work to support the
idea of peaceful coexistence of different ethic communities living
alongside each other.
5. Empower participants with skills of how to manage conflicts in a non-
violent ways, by enabling them share their life experience with each
other as a learning process.

The main topic discussed (Selected issues)
1. Attitudes and problems related to the deported Meskhetian in SJ.
2. Relationship between the deported Meskhetians and Georgian society.
3. Problems of the deported people in the modern context.
4. Present government position on the whole repatriation process.
5. What have been done by Meskhetian to facilitate their repatriation.
6. Problems related to issues of integration and adaptation.
7. How to deal with negative stereo types attached to the deported
Meskhetians.
8. Public diplomacy and prospects of its development within the
framework of peaceful and non- conflict    repatriation of Meskhetians
back to Georgia.
9. Coordination of joint efforts by the NGOs from SJ and the NGOs
representing the deported people.
10. Identification of groups that will spear head the process of
peaceful repatriation.
11. Determining target groups that will assist in defusing Meskhetian
related fears in the region.
12. Elaboration of future strategies for joint activities and future
collaborations, coordination of joint efforts in view of creating
favorable conditions for a non-conflict repatriation of deported
Meskhetians.

Some of the Issues raised 
As hindrance to integration and adaptation
- There is a problem of not being able to access Meskhetian history.
- Lack of knowledge of the Georgian language.
- Question of citizenship.
- Lack of commitment and support from the Georgian government.
- The question of religion.
- Lack of logistics to support the integration process.
- Poor economic situations which does not guarantee a peaceful
repatriation process.
- Lack of adequate legal norms and systems to support the process of
integration.
- Problem of attitude.
- Cultural constrains
- Public opinion.
- Popular politics and the question of divided families.

Regarding the question of negative attitudes attached to Meskhetian
repatriation
- Lack of adequate information.
- Lack of land in the region.
- Popular politics capitalizing on public sentiments in the region.
- Lack of Government commitment and proper consultation.
- Ignorance.
- Question of history
- Media and other institution not supportive of the repatriation
process.
- Lack open discussion from both sides[ Meskhetian and communities in
SJ]
- Lack of willingness to integrate.
- Opinions of the people in the region.

Proposed Recommendations: 
- There is an urgent need for open discussion concerning the Meskhetian
question from both sides of communities, government and lawmakers. Also
there is a need to consult with communities in the region while
preparing/ drafting the law on repatriation. Local opinions should be
reflected into the draft law.
- Meskhetian people would like to meet with people /communities in the
region. International agencies and NGOs should assist in achieving this.
- Local communities in the region are ignorant about the Meskhetian
issues, government should take the lead in informing communities about
possible repatriation process and prepare them for the exercise.
- Government should explain its pollicies openly regarding the return of
Meskhetians.
- Meskhetians would like to meet up with local communities and also be
given a chance to visit the areas in SJ where they used to live. They
need international and local support to achieve this.
- The question of lack of land should be addressed, like funds should be
established specifically to lease out land for the purpose of renting it
out to Meskhetians. Specifically targeting those who would like to
return to Georgia. Also those Meskhetians who would like to buy land
from SJ should be encouraged and allowed to do so.
- The repatriation process should be voluntary.
- Dialogue between the Meskhetian groups and people in the region should
be encouraged.
- Concrete plans and a better coordination strategy should be developed
to deal with the issue of repatriation. International agencies should
take the lead on this subject.
- Increased access to information in the region about Meskhetians and
their history should be supported. 
- Rehabilitation of Meskhetians mainly those who are willing to return. 
- The question of citizenship should be addressed.
- Improvement of economic situation mainly by agencies presently in the
region.
- The question of compensation of the deported people should be
addressed.
- State language and promotion of cultural heritage should be
encouraged. Centers should be established to address this question. 
- Teaching of civic education and human rights should be encouraged.
- Through information dissemination and through the media, the question
of the old mentality should be dealt with.
- Media should be encouraged to work not against the repatriation
process but to educate and support communities to pave way for the
peaceful repatriation.
- Public diplomacy - NGOs from the region should work jointly with
Meskhetian NGOs to promote a peaceful repatriation process. Also working
with local government to sensitize communities about the whole process
is very important.

Participants suggested the following as the way to move forward, 

- Involvement of NGOs from both sides (deported people and the S.J
groups) in addressing the repatriation issue.
- There were suggestions to form 'the Samstkhe Javakheti coordination
center '- an umbrella of both NGOs which will spearhead and coordinate
the work on the repatriation of the deported people.  This umbrella
organisation should work with NGO/international org, youth groups/
business groups and public entities such as schools, local communities
and its main goal should be to work towards a peaceful repatriation
process.
- Establishing books of remembrance- history should be written by the
help of arranging meetings with local people mainly those who still
remember the Meskhetian history. Meskhetian should be allowed to visit
their historical places in order for them to jog their memories and a
book should be published.
- Voluntary work should be done to rehabilitate Meskhetian historical
places by organizing students groups from different regions of SJ. This
will be considered as a confidence building initiative.
- NGOs which attended the Bakurian meeting agreed to meet in future to
organise joint projects. They pledged to work towards attracting and
involving more NGOs especially the International agencies who have shown
interest in facilitating 'a peaceful repatriation process'. 
- The meeting also agreed that the Bakurian NGOs will work as focal
point for the future cementing and improving of the image and
relationship between the deported people and communities in the region.

Overall the Bakurian meeting provided the much more needed openness to
start serious discussions on the Meshketian related issues by involving
both communities.[ The deported people and peoples of S.Javakheti].  The
meeting also opened up a whole new chapter as working relationships were
established between NGOs representing both communities. The common
understanding from the conference was that an umbrella organisation
should be formed to champion and coordinate joint efforts working
towards a peaceful repatriation process. There were calls to Government
to involve and consult more with communities before drafting laws which
might affect them in the long run. Also the conference expressed wish to
see more involvement and support from the International Agencies. It was
decided that next project(s) will focus on introducing small groups of
deported people to the region by giving them the opportunity to meet
with local communities. Also it was agreed that NGOs from both sides are
going to organise joint projects aiming at improving the image of
Meskhetians in the region and working towards a peaceful repatriation.

Prepared by
drs.Patrick.N.Kiezit
International Community facilitator