Azerbaijan, Baku, 11 June / Trend corr. R.Mashadihasanli, J.Babayeva / The communities and associations of Ahiska Turks, which act in 10 countries, united within the Coordination Council. Ziyaeddin Ismihanoglu, leader of Ahiska Turks in Kazakhstan, was elected the chairman of the Council.
This decision was taken in the closed meeting of Ahiska Turks from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzistan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, European Countries and Georgia (except the United States and Uzbekistan).
Ismihanoglu told to Trend that Mashati Turks, who live in Azerbaijan and Russia, want to return back to their motherland. "Mashati Turks have no problem in Azerbaijan, but still many of them want to go back to their motherland. Furthermore, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have good relations".
The Georgian Parliament passed the Bill on repatriation of Ahiska Turks in 2007. Under the Bill, the people who want to go back to their motherland must submit their documents to the Georgian Embassies within a year. By the obligation that Georgia assumed before the Council of Europe the country must settle this issue until 2011. At present, ten thousands of Ahiska Turks live in Azerbaijan.
The correspondent can be contacted at:[email protected]