December 17, 2001 - 23:05 AMT
GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN CALLED TO POSTPONE REPATRIATION OF TURK-MESKHETIANS TO JAVAKHK
Chairman of human rights protection commission of the Georgian Parliament Yelena Tevdoradze has come out with an initiative to postpone implementation of the law on repatriation of Turk-Meskhetians. As it is known, according to the obligations of Georgia to the Council of Europe, the repatriation should start in 2002 and be finished in 2012. According to the information of "Azg" newspaper, Yelena Tevdoradze has suggested the CE monitoring group, which will arrive in Tbilisi in January, to familiarize itself with the situation in Samtskhe-Javakhetiya region, the Armenian population of which is against repatriation of the Meskhetians. "Georgia should not be afraid to acknowledge the Council of Europe that although the undertaken obligation for repatriation of Meskhetians remain in force, the solution of the problem should be adjourned, as the domestic problems of Georgia are not solved yet," - Tevdoradze stated. In the deputy's words, restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia, return of the refugees from Abkhazia and Osetia to places of permanent residence, strengthening of economy are paramount among the domestic problems.