Memorial evening dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Muslim Meskhs deportation

On November 15, 2004 a memorial evening dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Muslim Meskhs deportation from Georgia was arranged at the Goethe Institute in Tbilisi. The event was organized by the Caucasian House, the Henrich Boll Foundation Caucasian office, the Goethe Institute of Tbilisi and with support of the Union of Georgian Repatriates, the Union “Patria” and meskhetians youth organization “Meskheti”.

“I think that the main problem is informational vacuum in the society in regards of the deported meskhetians. Negative attitude also exists because of anti-meskhetian propaganda conducted during last 70 years, ”  Klara Baratashvili of Union “Patria” says.

During the evening various aspects of meskhetians problem were discussed. The presentation of two books: “Book of Nazira – deported meskhetian woman” by Nazira Vachnadze and “Meskhetian Tragedy” by Khalil Gozalishvili  were also arranged. In the end of the evening, children of deported meskhetians made performance in Georgian language.

One of the main aims of the event was to draw public attention to the issue of deported meskhetians. Georgia has to adopt a law on the return of meskhetians according to a commitment undertaken by the Georgian authorities; but both the previous as well as the new authorities in the country have been delayed adoption of this law citing the IDP problem.