Social

Home page

Social

Caucasus Research Center holds roundtable on â€œThe problems of Georgian Azerbaijanisâ€

06 November 2008 13:24 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ramil Mammadli â€“ APA. Caucasus Research Center held a roundtable on the theme â€œThe problems of Georgian Azerbaijanisâ€, APA reports. Chairman of the center Kamran Ramazanli said the Azerbaijanis living in Georgia were the second majority, but the stateâ€™s attitude towards them was not so good.
â€œAccording to the Constitution, the language of 80,000 Abkhazians is the second official language in Georgia, while 500,000 Azerbaijanis are being deprived of their cultural privileges. Of 180 Azerbaijani schools 62 were closed after the collapse of the USSR. In the text-book for the 9th form, Azerbaijanis are shown as migrants,â€ he said.
Deputy Head of Georgiaâ€™s Marneuli Region Huseyn Yusifov said there were problems in all the regions of the country.
â€œOur compatriots do not live the countryâ€™s life, do not uniquely express their views on the education, young people leave the country and there are other problems. Unfortunately, Azerbaijani young people do not want to work in Georgia. They should return to their motherland,â€ he said.
He also noted the problems of Azerbaijanis in agricultural sphere and asked Azerbaijani government and rich people living in the country to offer assistance.
â€œThere is a need for the schools teaching Azeri music in Borchali,â€ he said.
Member of Management Board of Georgia-based â€œGeyretâ€ Peopleâ€™s Movement Ramiz Bakirov considered it expedient to give Azeri the status of a regional language.
Historian Khaleddin Ibrahimli, MPs Malahat Hasanova and Gultakin Hajibayli underlined the importance of solving our compatriotsâ€™ problems.