Georgian parliament calls back Turks Meskhetians but not to Javakheti
With 134 votes 'for' and 14 'against' the Georgian parliament passed June 22 the bill "On repatriation of persons expelled from Georgia by soviet authorities in 1940-ies". The legislation provides for return of Turks Meskhetians to Georgia.
Democratic Front faction member Ivlian Khaindrava said it was high time to pass the bill. "Each state should have a law on repatriation. However there should be a law regulating the process of stepwise return of Meskh Muslims, their adaptation in the Georgian society and settlement sites. The most important point here is that the issue of citizenship of the repatriates should be decided by the Georgian parliament but not the government," he said.
For her part, Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze underscored that the government will not create special conditions for the repatriates. "Georgia is not so rich. However we will do our best to ensure normal life for the repatriates. Turks Meskhetians will settle in different regions of Georgia but not in Samtskhe Javakheti, from where were deported," she said, Georgian media reports.
Democratic Front faction member Ivlian Khaindrava said it was high time to pass the bill. "Each state should have a law on repatriation. However there should be a law regulating the process of stepwise return of Meskh Muslims, their adaptation in the Georgian society and settlement sites. The most important point here is that the issue of citizenship of the repatriates should be decided by the Georgian parliament but not the government," he said.
For her part, Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze underscored that the government will not create special conditions for the repatriates. "Georgia is not so rich. However we will do our best to ensure normal life for the repatriates. Turks Meskhetians will settle in different regions of Georgia but not in Samtskhe Javakheti, from where were deported," she said, Georgian media reports.
