29 March 2005, 23:58
Meskhetian Turks issue 'moved forward'
The state commission on the repatriation of Meskhetian Turks to Georgia is to meet on 5 April, says the Office of Georgia's State Minister for Conflict Resolution, Georgii Khaindrava. The fist meeting of the commission established by an act of the Georgian president was held on 28 March.
The commission is going to form minor working groups to visit all places where Meskhetian Turks deported from Georgia in 1940s live and study their number.
Last week, staff of the State Minister for Conflict Resolution met with members of the Vatan movement which unites about 300,000 Meskhetian Turks. Suleyman Barbakadze, leader of the movement, told journalists the settlement of the repatriation issue was moved forward. Georgii Khaindrava, chair of the commission, said a number of serious international organisations and Western states were ready to assist Georgia in the issue.
More about Vatan:
Author: Svetlana Mkrtichan, CK correspondent
