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Georgian Labour Party appeals to Council of Europe on alleged pressure on ethnic minority in Azerbaijan

11 June 2007 18:09 (UTC +04:00)

Georgian â€œRustavi 2â€ TV channel spread information that incident occurred during Georgian Education Minister Alexander Lomayaâ€™s visiting Balakan, Zagatala and Gakh regions of Azerbaijan on June 9, APA reports.
TV channel quoted Georgian Labour Party. The party naming Gakh-Balaken zone of Azerbaijan Saingilo and writes that as if Georgian Education Minister was not allowed to meet with pupils and books presented to them were taken from them. Labour Party appealed to the Council of Europe regarding this and wanted establishment of special commission for learning the condition of Georgians (Ingliois) living in Azerbaijan.
Chief of Azerbaijan Education Ministryâ€™s publishing department Faig Shahbazov who participated in the visit of Georgian Minister refuted the mentioned report. He said that the visit was successful, and Lomaya expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijani leadership for delivering energy and natural gas to Georgia. The guests visited schools situated in Ipitala region of Balaken, Aliabad region of Zagatala, and Gakh, and presented books, school supplies and computers to schools.
Shahbazov said that the pupils did not participate in the meeting in Aliabad village and stated that teachers and parents of four schools attended the meeting with the Minister in that village. He explained non-attendance of the pupils with the closing of school on May 30 and participation of parents in the meeting. /APA/