Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / There are plans to hold the first congress of Azerbaijanis residing in Georgia, the head of the Geyrat popular movement operating in Georgia, Alibala Askarov, said to Trend.
According to him, the congress will be held mainly to discuss the global problems of Azerbaijanis residing in Georgia and to develop a unified conception.
Azerbaijanis are native of Georgia's capital and 13 regions. Some 500,000 Azerbaijanis reside in Georgia's Borchaly region (Kvemo-Kartli). There are 164 Azerbaijani schools in Georgia and the issue on their possible closure has been discussed since 2004. One of the items of Georgia's new education law deals with obligatory education in the official language. Adoption of the law may result in the closure of Azerbaijani schools.
The chairman of the State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov, also made this suggestion. He considers it expedient for compatriots to receive an education in the Georgian language.
Askarov noted that the main purpose of the congress was also dealing with the aforementioned issue. According to him, his suggestion caused anxiety and protest among Georgia's Azerbaijanis. Public organizations operating in Georgia decided to summon the congress to resolve the problems regarding education.
"The congress will be dedicated to Azerbaijanis' problems regarding their right to an education in the mother-tongue, as well as humanitarian problems. We suggest retaining Azerbaijani schools and simultaneously develop a state program for the correct teaching of the Georgian language," Askarov said.
According to him, representatives of all Georgian regions where Azerbaijanis reside are to participate in the congress.