Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 13 / Trend , J.Babayeva/
Recently, serious steps have been taken to solve social problems of Azerbaijanis in Georgia, Member of the Azerbaijani delegation at the PACE and MP Gultakin Hajibayli said at a news conference on Jan. 13.
"The Georgian Government attentively thinks of Azerbaijanis' social problems and seeks gradually to solve them. Many social projects have been implemented for them through the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic and Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Problems of Azerbaijanis in Georgia are always in the centre of the Azerbaijani government's attention," she said.
According to unofficial data, roughly 500,000 Azerbaijanis live in Georgia, basically in Kvemo-Kartli (Borchali) region.
Azerbaijanis in Georgia complain of problems on studying the state language and studying in mother language, getting lands, as well as high positions at the governmental bodies.
Last week, a group of public figures and MPs of the Azerbaijani Parliament, comprising Nasib Nasibli, Gultakin Hajiyeva, Musa Guliyev and Lala Abbasova, visited Georgia to get familiarization with problems of Azerbaijanis living in this country.
MP Abbasova assessed the visit of MPs and representatives of the Azerbaijani society as fruitful. "After the visit, the delegation was informed about solution of some social problems of Azerbaijanis in Georgia," Abbasova said.
Such visits should be implemented very often, the MP said. "Azerbaijanis in Georgia are in need of a moral support of the Azerbaijani government. Visits of MPs and representatives of the Azerbaijani society to Georgia and familiarization with problems of Azerbaijanis gave them hope to solve problems," Abbasova said.
"Governor of Kvemo-Kartli region David Kirkitadze said in a meeting with us that three schools will be built and 20 schools will be repaired in the Azerbaijani populated villages, the MP said.
MP Nasibli believes that Azerbaijanis in Georgia should be integrated in the Georgian society to ensure their future. "Renaming the Azerbaijani populated villages into the Georgian ones, not granting high positions to Azerbaijanis at the governmental bodies and other social problems lead to their assimilation," Nasibli said.
Azerbaijanis in Georgia can solve some social problems themselves, Chief Editor of Zerkalo newspaper Elchin Shikhli said. "First, Azerbaijanis in Georgia wants their children to study in the mother language," he said.
If the Azerbaijani government does not assist Azerbaijanis in Georgia in their integration in the Georgian society, mass outflow to Azerbaijan may begin," Shikhli said.
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