Christian crosses to be removed from Azerbaijani-populated villages of Georgia
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05 Mar 2009 13:13 ]
Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. Groundbreaking of the bust to Ashig Emrah will be held in Marneuli on March 9, head of Azerbaijan-Georgia Interparliamentary Friendship Group Ganira Pashayeva told APA.
She said the agreement had been reached with governor of Kvemo-Kartli David Kirkitadze. Ganira Pashayeva said Azerbaijan-Georgia Interparliamentary Friendship Group would support preparation of the bust. Chairman of Azerbaijan Ashigs Union Zalimkhan Yagub and governor of Kvemo-Kartli David Kirkitadze will also participate in the event. Ganira Pashayeva said the solution of a number of problems of Georgian Azerbaijanis had been discussed at the meeting with David Kirkitadze.
“The road from Marneuli to Azerbaijan’s border is too bad. Our compatriots first came to Tbilisi and then to the Red Bridge. The governor promised to start restoration of the road leading to the Red Bridge late in March. The road will be opened by the end of the year,” she said.
Admission of Georgian Azerbaijanis to the country’s higher schools was also discussed. Ganira Pashayeva said 120 Azerbaijanis will be admitted to Georgia’s higher schools with privileges.
“Admission to higher schools is through test in Georgia, too.
Azerbaijanis living in Georgia have to pass pre-test exam in Georgian, which creates certain problems. 120 Azerbaijanis get opportunity to enroll in public higher education establishments through the special examinations not passing the common exams. A special education center will be opened in Bolnisi Region next year, which will provide 120 Azerbaijani schoolchildren with the opportunity to pass state-funded training for the preliminary examinations”. Pashayeva said restoration of cultural centers in 15 Azerbaijani-populated villages of Georgia would be started later in March.
Installation of Christian roods in the Azerbaijani-populated villages of Georgia was also discussed with Kirkitadze, said Pashayeva and noted that residents concern over the installation of Christian roods in the Muslim villages. “David Kirkitadze said that he would discuss this issue with the relevant instances and the roods wouldn’t be installed in the Azerbaijani-populated villages further. The roods were already removed in two villages and this process will be continued in other villages too. They will establish special commission in connection with the rename of Azerbaijani villages”.
Pashayeva said center of the Marneuli Region would be supplied with drinking water this year. “Azerbaijanis living in Georgia have drinking water problem. This problem will be eliminated in the villages of Marneuli too. The governor promised that soon they will solve the drinking water problem in Bolnisi Region”.