Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb. 11 / Trend , N.Kirtskhalia/
The Kvemo Kartli regional newspaper Timer will be issued only once per month as of February. The newspaper was previously issued biweekly. Timer is published by the Rustavi Civil Development Agency in Georgian and Azerbaijani.
Rustavi Civil Development Agency Director Zviad Devdariani said selling Timer was always difficult, but the problem has become especially acute in recent months. Both the Georgian and Azerbaijani versions of the newspaper have a small circulation of 700 copies and are distributed in Kvemo Kartli.
Devdariani said the price for one newspaper was recently reduced to 0.3 lari ($1 is equal to 1.6730 lari). But the discount did not improve sales.
"Many people are interested in our newspaper, including local government representatives. They read the newspaper, but only when they get it free. When it comes to buying, everyone refuses," he said.
The Azerbaijani-language version of Timer is the only newspaper catering to the 300,000 Azerbaijanis in the region.
It is not the newspaper's fault that ethnic Azerbaijanis are not interested in a publication in their native language, Devdariani said.
"This is the challenge of integration. There should be a comprehensive national integration program. And newspapers should be a small part of it. But what is happening instead? Ordinary Azerbaijanis are locked in their society. They cultivate land, care for cattle and are not interested in what is going on in the outside world. Accordingly, they are not interested in what we print," Devdariani said.
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