State Minister Visits Turkey

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava, who also chairs the governmental commission on the repatriation of deported Meskhetians, is on a working visit to Turkey on April 16-20, the Georgian media reported.

Issues related to the repatriation of Meskhetians, who were deported from Georgia in 1944 will top the agenda of talks with officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Khaindrava also plans to meet representatives of the Meskhetian community in Turkey.

In January, 2006 the Council of Europe (CoE) once again called on Georgia to speed up the adoption of relevant legislation aimed at creating conditions for the repatriation of the Meskhetian population by 2011 – a commitment undertaken by Georgia upon joining the CoE in 1999.

During his visit to Georgia on March 14 Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer noted importance of the Meskhetians’ repatriation and said that Turkey is “watching with interest the positive work of the Georgian government in respect to the repatriation of Muslim Meskhetians.”

“Turkey is ready to contribute to this process of repatriation,” he added.