Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / Alibala Askarov, the Chairman of the popular movement of 'Geyrat', stated during at an 8 August press conference held in Baku, that the Azerbaijanis residing in the Kvemo-Kartli region of Georgia demand status for their Azerbaijani language.
Askarov noted that the movement appealed to the Parliament of Georgia, international organizations, and the Council of Europe. Askarov noted that giving the Azerbaijani language regional status would settle problems among the Azerbaijani Georgians regarding education, work, and other issues.
"In compliance with the decision of the Council of Europe, if the number of representatives of one nation makes up 51 % of total population, then the language of this nation may be given a regional status. The number of Azerbaijanis residing in Borchali region of Georgia makes up 50%.
In compliance with official information about 300,000 Azerbaijanis reside in Georgia.