09 March 2009, 22:00
Georgian MPs offer studying the problems of Georgians living in Azerbaijan
At the session of the Georgian parliamentary committee for relations with compatriots abroad, the MPs offered to set up a working group for dealing with the problems of the Georgians living in Azerbaijan.
They also suggested equipping expeditions for providing textbooks to Georgian schools in Azerbaijan, get acquainted with the work of the Georgian Folk Theatre in the village of Alibeili, and study the status of historical and cultural monuments of the Georgian nation.
In the course of the session, MPs discussed social problems of Azerbaijani Georgians.
The committee has reported to the APA Agency that presentations on the situation with the Georgian, who live in Azerbaijan, were made by MP Georgiy Akhvlediani, Deputy State Minister Tamara Gamilagdishvili, Deputy Minister of Education and Sciences Anna Zhvaniya and others.
In his turn, Misir Mardanov, Minister of Education of Azerbaijan, said on March 7 that the Azerbaijanis living in Georgia should know the Georgian language in order to integrate into the society.
Georgia operates 228 Azerbaijani schools. According to unofficial data presented by Azerbaijani NGOs, about half a million Azerbaijanis live in Georgia, mainly, in the Kvemo-Kartli (Borchaly) District.
Meanwhile, according to the Minister, in spite of the fact that today there are enough Azerbaijanis in Georgia, who are perfect in the Georgian language, they are not appointed to significant posts. "Appointment of Georgians, who don't know the Azerbaijani language, to be directors in the schools where children are taught in this language is my great concern. The Georgian minister and his delegation have agreed with me," said Mr Mardanov.
The Minister has expressed hope that these discussions will bring positive results, and the problem will be shortly settled, as the "Trend" Agency reports.
