OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Visits Georgia

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekйus visits Georgian on March 2-4 to discuss with country’s new leadership situation of ethnic minorities in Georgia.
 
During his talks with Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Foreign Minister Tedo Japaridze, and Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, as well as with representatives of the minority communities, the High Commissioner discussed issues related to education, language use and political participation of national minorities.

The OSCE reported on March 3, that the High Commissioner’s activities in Georgia, in particular a Conflict Prevention and Civil Integration Programme implemented in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, which is predominately populated by the ethnic Armenians, were welcomed by the country’s new leadership.
 
This programme aims to support better integration of the region and its population into Georgian society.
 
On the upcoming parliamentary elections, due to be monitored by the OSCE on March 28, the High Commissioner stressed, “a key element for integration in multi-ethnic States, is the effective participation of minorities in free and fair elections.”

The bilingual ballot papers were used for the first time in Georgia during the January 4 snap presidential elections in the regions mainly populated by the Azeri and Armenian ethnic minorities – a move hailed by the Council of Europe.