Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 29 / Trend , J.Babayeva/ Azerbaijanis in Georgia complain of their unsolved problems, which the government of the country promised and not fulfilled in 2008.
"The Georgian Government's promise on solution of Azerbaijanis' problems in the country was not fulfilled in 2008. The government has not taken any measures to solve existing problems," Alibala Asgarov, the chairman of Geyrat national movement of Azerbaijanis in Georgia, told Trend via telephone from Tbilisi on Dec. 29.
According to unofficial information, nearly 500,000 Azerbaijanis reside in Georgia, especially in the region of Kvemo-Kartli (Borchali).
Basically, Azerbaijanis in Georgia complain of problems connected with study of the state language, education in the mother language, getting lands and granting them high positions at state bodies.
In 2009, Azerbaijanis in Georgia hope for establishment of state body to solve their problems, Asgarov said. "None of official bodies is occupied with solution of problems of ethnic minorities in Georgia. In the case of establishment of such an organization, national minorities can solve their problems at a governmental level," he said.
An issue on establishment of this organization was a topic of only discussion at the parliament and meetings between ethnic minorities and governmental officials, the chairman of Geyrat said.
2008 was a difficult year for Azerbaijanis in Georgia, Ali Babayev, the chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis in Georgia (CAG), said. "Loss of Georgia's territory, difficult economic situation affected life condition of Azerbaijanis in Georgia, as well," Babayev said to Trend via telephone from Tbilisi.
Azerbaijanis in Georgia intends actively to participate in political process of the country in 2009, Babayev said. "The Congress of Azerbaijanis in Georgia will continue protecting Azerbaijanis' rights and assisting in their integration into the Georgian society," the chairman of the CAG said.
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