acf - south caucasus newsletter spring 2012

ACF South Caucasus Bulletin Issue VII Spring 2012 ACF organizes Go‐and‐See visits to Georgia for potential Meskhetians repatriates ACF is an international organization that uniquely bridges emer‐ gency relief and longer‐ term development. Our solutions to global hun‐ ger are needs‐based, context‐specific, custom‐ ised through direct com‐ munity participation and distinguished by these defining characteristics: • Comprehensive approach • Lasting solutions • Community‐centred • Independent and impartial • Full accountability and transparency • Efficient and cost‐ effective Action Against Hunger— Spain Caracas 6, Floor 1, 28010 Madrid (+34 91) 391 5300 www.accioncontraelham bre.org South Caucasus Coordi‐ nation Office Head of Mission: Celine Carre [email protected] 30 Makashvili Street, Tbilisi (+995 32) 988238 Field offices: Tbilisi (East Georgia) Zugdidi (West Georgia) Sukhumi and Gali (Abkhazia) In Armenia: Sisian In Azerbaijan: Baku In October and November 2012, within the framework of its programme ““Supporting the repatriation of persons deported from Georgia in the 1940s and their de- scendants”, ACF organised 2 Go- and-See visits to Georgia for potential Meskhetian repatriates living in Azerbaijan. All 17 participants in these visits have received the repatriate status document and the visits allow them to make an informed decision regarding future return to Georgia. During each visit the participants were able to visit regions in Geor- gia where other Meskhetian families are residing, discuss repatriation issues with national and re- gional government officials and meet with Meskhetian organizations working i n Georgia. An ad- ditional benefit of these visits was that, on their return, participants were requested to inform other applicants of their experience and the information that they have received. This process builds upon existing informational services that are being implemented within the framework of the programme. The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) is working in part- nership with ACF on this programme and facilitated a meeting in Tbilisi for the participants, which was attended by government representatives from the MRA, the Ministry of Justice and the Na- tional Security Council. The groups also met with Meskhetian organizations that are working in Georgia to hear their perspective on the repatriation process. Later in the visit the groups trav- elled to the villages of Ianeti in Samtredia Municipality and Tsite- lubani in Gori Municipality to meet with local Meskhetian families who were able to share information on the present situation in Georgia, regarding living conditions and opportunities. Finally the participants visited Ak- haltsikhe and Adigeni Municipali- ties in Samstkhe-Javakheti and visited t heir vill ages of origin. In the village of Smada one of the participants located his home where he lived before being exiled in 1944 and talked with the family who are now living there. The experience was very emotional and he told to the ACF representatives his story: Personal Account of Meybiyev Dilavar from Smada village of Saatli region in Azerbaijan (people gave the names of their old villages in Georgia to the locations they settled in Azerbaijan) Dilavar was 11 years old in 1944 when he was deported from Georgia along with his mother, brother and sister. His father and his 4 brothers were away at the war at the time and never returned. The family were resettled in Kyr- gyzstan and life was extremely difficult but they survived due to hard work. The first time Dilavar re-visited his village in Georgia was in 1978, having obtained, with great difficulty, the per- mission pass to enter the Akhaltsikhe zone (during the Soviet times it was forbidden to visit the bordering regions). He found his home in which a Georgian family now live. The owner welcomed Dilavar and invited him in, and Dilavar stayed a few days visiting the neighbouring forests and villages. No more Meskhet ians lived in the area. The Georgian host offered to share his land plot and to build a n ew house there for Dilavar and his 5 sons, but Dilavar refused the offer, saying that he will get a new land plot for himself. In the late 80’s Dilavar and his family moved to Azerbaijan. The second time he came to Smada village to visit his house was in 2000. His Georgian host from the previous visit had died but his son also welcomed Dilav ar. The “Go and See” visit was the third time that Dilavar has seen his old home and v illage. During the time he was there he filled plastic bottles with water from the local spring in the village and the Georgian family living in his old home again welcomed him, and helped him to pick apples from the orchard – the water and apples were to be taken back for family members and villagers in Azerbaijan. ACF intends to run a further 6 “Go and See” visits from Azerbaijan in the coming months as well as 1 visit from Turkey and 1 from Kyr- gyzstan. It is planned that 90 people will att end these visit s. Meybiyev Dilavar from Smada village

acf - south caucasus newsletter spring 2012

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