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Azerbaijani MP in Georgian Parliament: We are aborigines here - EXCLUSIVE

Azerbaijani MP in Georgian Parliament: We are aborigines here - <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE</font>

31 May 2008 09:25 (UTC +04:00)

Dossier: Azer Mirza Suleymanov was born in Marneuli on June 1967. After graduating Russian secondary school in Marnueli in 1984, he entered Azerbaijan State University of Economics. After returning from the military service in 1988, he studied accounting at university and graduated in 1991.
In the same year he was appointed as chief of the finance department in Marnueli Executive Committee. He was elected to Georgian parliament by majoritarian electoral system in 2000. In 2002-2008 he worked as deputy governor of Kvemo-Kartli region. He was reelected to parliament on May 21, 2008.
- What have you done for the integration of Azerbaijanis into the Georgian society during your first term in parliament?
- One of our biggest challenges is the integration into society. Azeris canâ€™t enter into the Georgian elite because they donâ€™t know Georgian. We opened Georgian language courses at schools. We will never agree to Borchali peopleâ€™s migrating to other countries to seek a job. We have lived here for more than five hundred years. We are the aborigines here. Previously, our compatriots living in Marneuli was supplied with electricity two hours a day and water once a week. They have no imagination about gas and roads. They couldnâ€™t get salary and pension on time. At present the villages are provided with electricity round the clock. Salary is delivered on time, there is a 10-15 times rise in pension. However, there are still some issues unsolved. Due to the fact that Marneuli is the agricultural region, here is a great need for irrigation of sown areas. One of our biggest unsolved problems is about land. Following the land reform in 1996, the majority of the population couldnâ€™t get land. The greatest need of Azerbaijanis in Kvemo Kartli is the problem of land. There are problems in education too.
- You say you are aborigines, is it normal to have two seats in 150-member parliament?
- One more Azerbaijani can be represented in the parliament. This is Shamil Isfahanov from Bolnisi. He ranked the 50th in the voting list. The parliamentarian will be able to attend the sittings in summer, even though not in the first session. We all represent the ruling party. A fourth parliamentarian will possibly be in the parliament. Elshan Hasanov is from Marneuli region. He ranked the 64th in the voting list. If some elected parliamentarians are appointed to other posts, Elshan Hasanov will have a chance to be in the parliament. There is nothing to worry. We will do our best to solve all our problems.
- What issue will you raise first in the parliament?
- As I have mentioned, Marneuli is an agricultural region. The main problem of our people is the problem of water and land. Then comes the construction of highway to Azerbaijani villages, its construction has already begun and we will do our best so that the construction is finished in time. The problem of the Georgian language of our compatriots is also the priority. We will make efforts to achieve financial allocation in this field and eliminate this shortcoming.
- Azerbaijanis are the second largest national minority in Georgia. Why the governor of Kvemo Kartli is not Azerbaijani?
- I am not president. I can say that Azerbaijanis are represented in the parliament now. Azerbaijanis work in the ministries, are elected heads of municipalities. The day will come when Azerbaijanis will be appointed governors.