Tweet
Georgia Online, Georgia
Oct 5 2012
"Multi-ethnic Georgia" outraged by Ivanishvili's statement on Armenians
Georgia Online
20:35 - 05 October '12
Non-governmental organization "Multi-ethnic Georgia" is outraged and
concerned about the statement, the leader of the winning coalition
"Georgian Dream", Bidzina Ivanishvili, made on national minorities in
an interview with The New Times magazine. The organization issued a
special statement in this regard.
"In your interview, published at the electronic edition of «The New
Times», journalist Yevgenia Albats asked you a question - "You lived
in France, your children grew up there, then you came back [to
Georgia] and suddenly - [created] party, elections ... What did you
need it for?
You responded: "We, Georgians, are strange people - we are tied to the
land. This is our character. For example, we have Armenians living
here. I am so surprised, they have their homeland nearby, but they
live here. You probably do not have such an issue. But I cannot
understand. I lived in France, for a year in America, and I started
dreaming about my village, my land ... ".
In this regard, we inform you that we are deeply concerned with your
words, which contradict your election campaign slogans about civil
equality, unity and inter-ethnic harmony. We believe that the
leadership of Georgia, which the "Georgian Dream" has already become
under your leadership, must in-practice pursue a balanced and tolerant
policy towards all ethnic, religious and other groups living in
Georgia.
We, representatives of ethnic minorities, are the same [kind of]
citizens of Georgia, as the representatives of the majority, with all
the rights and responsibilities involved, and we have no other home,
than the common state for all of us- Georgia.
In the meantime, we note that we share your vision with respect to the
need for establishing a direct dialogue with the Abkhaz and Ossetians,
but at the same time, we want to emphasize that for the same
Abkhazians and Ossetians it is extremely important to see the new
government being able to ensure inter-ethnic equality and harmony
within the territories, under Georgian jurisdiction. We hope that in
contrast to the former authorities, you will study and take into
account the recommendations that our organization has developed as a
result of years of work.
Given this, and the fact that your interview was published in the
online edition and there is no video or audio confirmation of the
above, Public Movement "Multi-ethnic Georgia" is awaiting for
explanations for your words in the interview, as well as [expects you
to] respond to all the intolerant statements with respect to ethnic
minorities, [used] during the election campaign.
We also consider it appropriate to hold a meeting with representatives
of different ethnic groups in the shortest possible for you time. "
http://georgiaonline.ge/news/a1/politics/1349494558.php
From: A. Papazian
Oct 5 2012
"Multi-ethnic Georgia" outraged by Ivanishvili's statement on Armenians
Georgia Online
20:35 - 05 October '12
Non-governmental organization "Multi-ethnic Georgia" is outraged and
concerned about the statement, the leader of the winning coalition
"Georgian Dream", Bidzina Ivanishvili, made on national minorities in
an interview with The New Times magazine. The organization issued a
special statement in this regard.
"In your interview, published at the electronic edition of «The New
Times», journalist Yevgenia Albats asked you a question - "You lived
in France, your children grew up there, then you came back [to
Georgia] and suddenly - [created] party, elections ... What did you
need it for?
You responded: "We, Georgians, are strange people - we are tied to the
land. This is our character. For example, we have Armenians living
here. I am so surprised, they have their homeland nearby, but they
live here. You probably do not have such an issue. But I cannot
understand. I lived in France, for a year in America, and I started
dreaming about my village, my land ... ".
In this regard, we inform you that we are deeply concerned with your
words, which contradict your election campaign slogans about civil
equality, unity and inter-ethnic harmony. We believe that the
leadership of Georgia, which the "Georgian Dream" has already become
under your leadership, must in-practice pursue a balanced and tolerant
policy towards all ethnic, religious and other groups living in
Georgia.
We, representatives of ethnic minorities, are the same [kind of]
citizens of Georgia, as the representatives of the majority, with all
the rights and responsibilities involved, and we have no other home,
than the common state for all of us- Georgia.
In the meantime, we note that we share your vision with respect to the
need for establishing a direct dialogue with the Abkhaz and Ossetians,
but at the same time, we want to emphasize that for the same
Abkhazians and Ossetians it is extremely important to see the new
government being able to ensure inter-ethnic equality and harmony
within the territories, under Georgian jurisdiction. We hope that in
contrast to the former authorities, you will study and take into
account the recommendations that our organization has developed as a
result of years of work.
Given this, and the fact that your interview was published in the
online edition and there is no video or audio confirmation of the
above, Public Movement "Multi-ethnic Georgia" is awaiting for
explanations for your words in the interview, as well as [expects you
to] respond to all the intolerant statements with respect to ethnic
minorities, [used] during the election campaign.
We also consider it appropriate to hold a meeting with representatives
of different ethnic groups in the shortest possible for you time. "
http://georgiaonline.ge/news/a1/politics/1349494558.php
From: A. Papazian